Executive Members will be considering proposals to review and consult on the Home to School travel policy at an upcoming Executive meeting due to be held on 23 July.
The proposals are part of a wider review aimed at ensuring value for money as well as improving the offer for families. The report provides welcome reassurances to those who are currently using the service that the eligibility will not change and there are no plans to reduce the number of children and young people accessing the service.
Work undertaken by the review has already successfully identified savings of over £500k. This has been achieved through reducing the number of vehicles in use, combining routes, and retendering other routes.
The proposed policy aims to provide better outcomes and more flexibility for families. It includes proposals to offer training to young people to help them access transport, not only increasing independence to access school but enabling lifelong independence.
If the proposals in the report are approved, a formal consultation process will be held early in the autumn when residents will be invited to respond and provide feedback that will be used to help shape the policy to ensure it meets the needs of our children, young people and families now, and in the future. We will also engage with families, schools and the people who are currently using the service to shape and co-produce the consultation.
Emma Hamer, Assistant Director for Education, SEND and Inclusion, said:
“Cumberland Council is committed to providing good value for money for our residents. The review has already saved over £500k. The proposed changes would ensure all children and young people who are currently using the service will continue to get travel assistance, we would be able to offer a wider choice to families and promote independence.
“Our recommendations focus on meeting the needs of the people using the service. They include promoting inclusive opportunities to enable our children and young people to travel to and from school or college independently, or by using family-based approaches like those used by other children and young people wherever possible. A new approach to commissioning transport will also provide a more efficient and better value service.
“We want the service that better meets the needs of families and if the recommendation is approved, we will be actively encouraging families, schools and those who currently use the service to have their say about the proposals by responding to the public consultation to ensure the changes meet the needs of our communities.”
