The following policies are currently being reviewed and comments are invited by Friday 2 May 2008.
Denominational Schools Transport Policy
The current policy is:
Where pupils of statutory school age take up places at the nearest maintained voluntary aided school within North Lincolnshire of their parent’s denomination the council normally provides free transport from home to school to:
- Pupils aged seven years and under where the journey between home and school is over two miles, but not more than 12 miles.
- Pupils aged eight and over where the journey between home and school is between three and 12 miles. We will charge for the cost of transport over 12 miles. The cost of the first 12 miles will be refunded at an agreed mileage rate to parents who provide their own transport.
From September 2009 it is proposed that this should be changed as follows:
Starting from September 2009, phase out the policy. We would protect pupils who are currently entitled to free transport under the policy whilst they attend their present voluntary aided school. Pupils starting a new voluntary aided school on or after 1 September 2009 would not be entitled to free transport unless they were entitled under the extension of entitlement policy available to children from low-income groups.
Extension of Entitlement to Children from Low Income Groups:
The policy approved as an addendum to the home to school transport policy for the period September 2007-July 2009 is:
Who is affected by the Addendum?
It relates to children from low-income groups. The Act defines them as those who are entitled to free school meals, or whose families are in receipt of their maximum level of working tax credit.
Children of Primary School Age
From 1 September 2007 free transport between home and school will be provided to children aged eight –11 from low income groups attending their nearest qualifying school if they live more than two miles from the school.
Children aged 11-16
From 1 September 2008 free transport between home and school will be provided to children from low income groups to one of their three nearest qualifying schools where they live more than two miles, but less than six miles from that school.
Where a parent has expressed a preference for a school, based on the parent’s religion or belief, a child aged 11-16 from a low income group will receive free transport to their nearest suitable school preferred on grounds of religion or belief where they live more than two, but not more than 15 miles from the school.
What is a qualifying school?
- Community, foundation or voluntary schools
- Community or foundation special schools
- Non-maintained special schools
- Pupil referral units
- Maintained nursery schools
- City technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of the arts or academies.
A qualifying school also includes places other than schools where a child is receiving education by virtue of arrangements made under section 19 (1) of the Education Act 1996.
For a child with Special Educational Needs, an independent school will be a suitable school if it is the only school named in the child’s statement or it is the nearest of two or more schools named in the statement.
How will the distance to school be measured?
The two-mile limit will be measured in the same way as the statutory walking distance. This is described in section 1.1 of the Home to School Transport Policy and section 3 of the Home to School Transport Policy for Pupils with Special Educational Needs.
The six-mile and 15 upper limits are not walking routes and will be measured along road routes.
Travel Arrangements
Where a child is entitled to receive free home to school transport this is for the journey at the start and end of the school day. It does not include travel between education institutions during the day, or to placements other than those at which the child is registered.
Travel arrangements may be
- A pass to travel on a public registered service
- A pass to travel on a dedicated school bus
- Refund on mileage expenses
- A taxi or specialist transport with or without an escort depending on the needs of the child.
Checking and Reviewing Entitlement
For children aged eight-11 the eligibility to free school transport on income grounds will be the date during the academic year when the parent submits evidence that confirms their child’s eligibility to free school transport.
For children who are transferring to secondary school from 1 September at the age of 11, eligibility on income grounds will be at 1 March of that year, the National Offer Day for secondary places.
For children aged 11-16 who are already attending secondary school when this policy is implemented, free home to school transport will be provided from the point that we receive an application and evidence that they meet the conditions and their eligibility is confirmed.
For children aged 11-16 who take up a place at a secondary school during the academic year, or whose circumstances change, e.g. because they have moved home, moved into the North Lincolnshire area, or whose household income has changed, free home to school transport will be provided from the point that we receive an application and evidence that they meet the conditions and their eligibility is confirmed.
Children’s entitlement to free transport will be reviewed during the academic year. Parents will be asked to submit evidence that their child is still entitled to receive free transport on income grounds. If evidence is not received, or does not satisfy the eligibility conditions, free transport will be withdrawn from the start of the next academic year.
The policy reflects the statutory duty placed on the council by the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
Before incorporating this within the home to school transport policy with effect from September 2009, we would like to receive comments from North Lincolnshire residents.
Comments
Please let us have your comments on both these aspects of the home to school transport policy no later than Friday 2 May 2008. If you want any more information about them please contact Ruth Bohin on 01724 297215, or email ruth.bohin@northlincs.gov.uk.
Comments should be addressed to Ruth Bohin, School Transport, North Lincolnshire Council, Hewson House, Station Road, Brigg, DN20 8XJ