This policy is effective from 1 September 2009, and replaces the policy revised in July 2002 and effective from 1 September 2003.
Introduction
Parents have a duty to make sure that their children attend school and to make the necessary transport arrangements.
North Lincolnshire Council provides free transport services in certain circumstances. It can also use its discretion to help with transport costs in other circumstances.
This document is to help parents and schools understand who is entitled to help with transport, and the services that are available.
This policy is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1996, particularly sections 444 and 509.
Through this policy the council aims to provide equitable, safe, efficient and cost effective transport to all entitled pupils.
1. Entitlement to school transport
1.1 Designated schools
Where pupils of statutory school age (five to 16-years-old) take up places at schools serving the area in which they live (i.e. catchment school), or the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school, the council will provide free transport between home and school to:
- Pupils aged up to and including seven years where the journey between home and school is more than two miles
- Pupils aged eight and over but below school leaving age where the journey between home and school is more than three miles.
In accordance with the Education Act 1996 Section 444 walking distance is measured by the nearest available route between the home and the school - along metalled roads, recognised footpaths and the like.
Routes are measured from the nearest entrance to a house (e.g. front gate) to the nearest school entrance. Private driveways and farm tracks are not included in the calculations. Measurements are strictly applied. To do otherwise would lead to inconsistencies and unfairness. The distance is measured on a computerised geographic mapping system (GIS) using ordnance survey information.
An available route is the shortest one along which a child accompanied by a responsible adult as necessary, can walk to school reasonably safely.
1.2 Low income groups
Children who are entitled to free school meals or whose families receive their maximum level of working tax credit and are ordinarily resident at the same address as the child will be entitled to receive free transport if:
- They are of primary school age, are attending their nearest qualifying school and live more than more than two miles from the school
- They are aged 11-16, are attending one of their three nearest qualifying schools and they live more than two, but less than six miles from that school
- They are aged 11-16 and are attending the nearest suitable school preferred by their parents, on the grounds of the parent's religion or belief and the school is more than two, but not more than fifteen miles from the home address.
This entitlement is additional to the entitlement given in section 1.1 of the policy. We measure the two mile limit as described in section 1.1. The six and fifteen mile upper limits are not walking routes. We will measure them along road routes.
Qualifying schools are:
- Community, foundation or voluntary schools
- Community or foundation special schools
- Non-maintained special schools
- Pupil referral units
- City technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of the arts or academies.
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 schools named in the statement.
Pupils transferring from primary to secondary school education will be eligible for free transport to secondary school at the National Offer Day for secondary places, if their parent provides evidence of low income.
Pupils aged eight to 11-years-old and children taking up places at secondary school, other than when they are transferring from primary school at age 11, will become eligible for free transport on income grounds from the date that their parent submits evidence that confirms they meet the low income criterion.
We will review pupils' entitlement during each academic year. We will ask parents to submit evidence that their child is still entitled to receive free transport on income grounds. If you cannot give us the evidence, or it does not satisfy the criteria, we will withdraw free transport from the start of the next academic year.
1.3 Parental preference
The council recognises its obligations under the Education Act, 1996, to comply with parental preferences regarding choice of school. But because the council must use its resources efficiently, it will normally provide free or subsidised transport only where the preference is for the school designated as serving the area in which parents live (i.e. catchment school), or the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school. The council considers that any other arrangement would cost too much and be an inefficient use of resources for providing education.
This means that if you wish to apply for places in schools other than those mentioned above, you should be aware that free or concessionary transport will not normally be available, regardless of the distance involved. However, it may be possible for you to pay for a spare seat at the full commercial rate (see Section 1.5). We will always give priority to pupils attending their designated school.
We will consider each pupil's application individually. However, only in exceptional circumstances will the council use its discretion to help with the cost of transport involved in meeting these preferences. Exceptional circumstances are discussed in more detail in Section 2.
1.4 School children's concessionary travel scheme
Buying spare seats on closed contracts
Sometimes there are spare seats on school buses. If this happens and there is no public transport, we may allow pupils concessionary travel who would not normally be entitled to it. This applies to children living within the statutory walking distance who go to the catchment school, the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school.
The council sets the level of fares. You must pay each term in advance. You also have to pay an annual registration fee. You must pay this again if we have to re-issue a pass.
If a pupil moves into an area who is entitled to free school transport, they have priority for spare seats over pupils who don't qualify for free transport. This may also apply if the transport network needs to be reorganised. We will give at least one week's notice in these circumstances. Pupils might also have to give up a concessionary place if we have to change a route or hire a smaller vehicle. If this happens, we will refund any fares you have paid.
We cannot change bus routes to accommodate concessionary users. Short term purchase of spare seats will be at the council's discretion.
Concessionary travel on public transport
Pupils travelling to their catchment school, or the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school, but who are not entitled to free transport, may take advantage of concessionary fares on public buses. Primary school children pay an agreed fare per single journey. Secondary pupils pay half the adult fare. We issue concessionary fare passes annually up to the end of the academic year in which the child's 16th birthday falls. You can get further details from the education transport section at Hewson House (Tel. 01724 297218). Parents pay an annual registration fee. They have to pay this again if we have to re-issue a pass.
1.5 Commercial rates - out of county and non-designated school
Where there is no public bus service, pupils who are not attending their designated school, or who live outside North Lincolnshire but wish to attend a North Lincolnshire school, may pay to travel on a closed contract bus, if a seat is available. The daily fare is based on commercial fares in the area. You have to pay fares termly in advance. You also have to pay an annual registration fee. We cannot change a route to accommodate such pupils.
1.6 Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Pupils with a statement of special educational needs, who do not need special transport to get to school, or live within walking distance and are able to make their own way to school, accompanied by an adult as necessary, are subject to this policy. Further information about the policy for pupils who need special arrangements with travel see the booklet 'Home to School Transport Policy for Children with Special Educational Needs.'
1.7 Post 16 transport
Council policy on students over compulsory school age is available in a separate document. You can get a copy from the education transport section at Hewson House, Brigg.
1.8 Use of parents' own transport
If a child is entitled to receive free transport but no suitable transport contract is available, or there is no public service, parents willing to drive their children to school may be reimbursed at a mileage rate agreed by the Council. For details contact the Education Transport section at Hewson House on: 01724 297218.
1.9 Transport to maintained voluntary aided schools
In July 2008 the council decided to phase out discretionary transport to the nearest maintained voluntary aided school within North Lincolnshire of the parent's denomination from 1 September 2009.
Only statutory school aged pupils who attend the school before 1 September 2009 will be entitled to receive free transport between home and school if:
- They are aged seven years and under where the journey between home and school is over two miles, but not more than 12 miles
- They are 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 for journeys 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.
Pupils entitled to receive free transport to a maintained voluntary aided primary school will not be entitled to receive it if they transfer to a voluntary maintained secondary school on or after 1 September 2009. We may withdraw pupils' entitlement to free transport before the end of their time at the school if their circumstances change and they no longer meet the above criteria.
Secondary school age pupils from low income groups attending a school on grounds of their parent's religion or belief may be entitled to free transport if they meet the criteria set out in section 1.2 of the policy.
If you think your case merits special consideration you should contact the education transport section.
2 Exceptional entitlement to transport
2.1 Medical transport
We will provide free transport, short or long-term, if we have confirmation from an approved medical practitioner that a child needs transport on medical grounds. We will only provide free transport to the catchment school, or the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school. We will only do this for the time specified by the medical officer. After this period parents are responsible for contacting the education transport section if they wish the transport to continue.
2.2 Transport assistance for young parents
Free transport may be provided for young parents, regardless of distance, between home and the Young Parents' Unit in order to enable them to continue going to school.
2.3 Hazardous journey
If the council feels the journey is hazardous, it may provide free transport even though the distance from home to school is less than the statutory walking distance. We will make such transport available only to the catchment school, the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school.
Trained officers assess whether routes are hazardous. Their decisions are based on the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association's criteria for a safe walking route to school. They assume that a parent or other responsible person goes with the child. They don't take into account parents' financial circumstances, domestic arrangements or weather conditions.
2.4 Transport provision for special circumstances
We may consider providing free transport in special circumstances where a pupil's education could be severely disrupted. Where the council makes educational provision at a special unit, an alternative school, or other non-school site, we may provide free transport. We consider each case individually.
At our discretion, we may also provide free transport if a pupil's circumstances mean that they would be unlikely to attend school without it. We will be review such arrangements at the end of each term or designated period. We will withdraw it if the need ceases.
Depending on distance, we may provide free transport for excluded pupils, attending a Pupil Referral Unit or alternative school.
An Education Welfare Officer or the council's Moderation Panel must support each case put forward for consideration under this section of the policy.
2.5 Transport provision if the local school is full
If the designated school or nearest school is full, we will provide transport to the next nearest school or a school approved by the council's Schools Admissions Section if the distance criterion is met.
We will tell parents when a place is available at the local school. Free transport to the alternative school will cease at the end of the current school term. We may consider letting the pupil continue to receive free transport to the alternative school, for example if they have attended the school for a long time or if they are in their last year at the school.
2.6 Transport assistance following a school closure or reorganisation
The council may use its discretion to help with transport for pupils affected by a school closure or reorganisation.
Only pupils who attend the catchment school, the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school, affected at the time of closure or reorganisation may be provided with transport assistance to the new school. This is for as long as they continue to live within the area of their previous school.
Help with transport will end when a pupil moves to the next stage of education. The normal transport policy will apply to all future admissions.
2.7 Rising fives
Pupils who are four-years-old and in full-time education are not automatically entitled to transport. But the council will consider helping with home to school transport if the pupil meets the mileage criteria and goes to the catchment school, the nearest school, or the nearest North Lincolnshire school.
3 Method of travel
Home to school transport may be provided by council vehicles, contracted services, public bus, rail services and the like. The mode of travel selected for each pupil will be at the sole discretion of the council.
3.1 Healthy alternatives to school transport
Schools should encourage pupils to cycle or walk to school. This will, however, depend on the pupil's age, adequate and secure cycle parking at school and the route being suitable. When a school promotes cycling to school, it should also provide road cycle training.
The council has a sustainable school travel policy, published on the council website. The strategy aims to increase the number of children who travel to school in ways other than single passenger car journeys. The strategy builds on the school travel plans being developed by schools. Many schools have plans that aim to reduce the number of cars visiting the school site and improve safety of pupils as they travel to and from school. The government has set a target of all schools having a plan by 2010.
3.2 Picking up/setting down points from home
Statutorily entitled pupils are collected as near to their home as is reasonably possible. However, some pupils may have to walk a reasonable distance to and from home to meet their transport. Pick up points will generally be at marked bus stops or designated points in villages or lane ends. Pupils will be set down in the afternoon at the point where they were picked up.
Pick up points will not be added, or variations arranged, to the route to accommodate pupils paying the concessionary or commercial rate.
Parents are responsible for their children's safety in getting to and from the notified pick up and setting down points. They are also responsible for their children while they are waiting for transport and when they leave the transport at the end of the day.
3.3 Journey times
The council will do its best to ensure that pupils are travelling for the shortest possible time. In most cases, pupils will arrive at school 10 minutes before the start of the school. They will leave 10 minutes after the end of the school session time. As far as possible pupils will be conveyed to school by the most direct route. But to use its resources efficiently, the council reserves the right to arrange routes that might give some pupils a longer, indirect journey. However, we would not expect any journey to take more than one and a quarter hours.
3.4 Travel times
Transport will be provided for entitled pupils only at the start and the end of the school day. Only in exceptional circumstances will we consider transport at any other time. Any transport of this kind must be authorised by an education welfare officer and approved by the education transport officer.
3.5 Extra-curricular activities
We cannot organise transport for pupils taking part in extra-curricular activities or work experience placements.
3.6 Mixed loading
To use its resources efficiently, the council may decide to integrate pupils from different schools and age groups. This means that pupils from all age groups and different schools may use the same vehicle.
4. Operational procedures
4.1 Behaviour on school transport
Parents, schools, pupils, transport contractors and the council all share responsibility for the behaviour of pupils on school transport.
The council has produced a Code of Conduct for Safe Behaviour on School Transport. You can get copies from the education transport office (01724) 297218.
At the start of each academic year, we issue school transport guidance leaflets to pupils using school transport. They contain advice about the standards of behaviour and individual responsibilities.
If there is extreme misbehaviour on school transport, we may withdraw transport from the pupils involved. In these cases parents will be responsible for pupils' travel to school. Before we withdraw a bus pass, the school will investigate such incidents in conjunction with the education transport section.
The council requires contractors to insure themselves for all damage, however caused. Contractors may seek recompense from parents where if their children cause any damage.
We may monitor behaviour on school transport. This could include using CCTV on some vehicles,
4.2 Child protection
Where council staff, drivers and escorts have access to children, the council will ask the Criminal Records Bureau to disclose any convictions, cautions etc. Depending on the content of the disclosure the council will decide whether or not to allow the individual to work on school transport.
4.3 Severe weather
Transport operators will decide whether or not to run transport in severe weather. They will liaise with the council's school transport office as necessary. If services are excessively delayed, brought forward or cancelled, we will tell parents via local radio.
4.4 Transport granted in error
Where there has been an error in the granting of school transport which the council has decided to correct, for example to avoid unnecessary expenditure, it will give one term's notice to parents. Parents have the right to appeal against the decision.
4.5 Replacement passes
If a pupil loses their bus pass, a charge will be made for replacements.
4.6 Appeals procedure
Parents wishing the council to review a decision on transport should first write to the council with details of the exceptional circumstances so that senior management can consider the case.
The parent may then appeal against the decision taken by senior management by submitting their case in the agreed format to an Appeals Panel. The panel's decision will be final.
Contact numbers
For further information about the policy and its application in practice contact one of the following:
For details of the policy and pupils' eligibility for transport, call 01724 297218.
For advice about transport once pupils' eligibility to receive it has been confirmed, call 01724 297216.
Application Forms
If you think you may be eligible for free school transport please contact us on 01724 297218, or e mail schooltransport@northlincs.gov.uk
If you want us to assess your eligibility on low-income grounds please complete the form below
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If you want us to assess your eligibility on grounds of religion or belief please complete form SCT14, and SCT 15 below
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