Swindon Borough Council plans to cut subsidised travel to school for children over 16 and older children with special educational needs in a bid to save money.
The council is required to provide free home to school transport to pupils of compulsory age in specific circumstances, but there is no automatic entitlement for those over the age of 16.
The latest proposal is part of the council's continuing drive to save £80m in the next few years to meet the rising cost and demand of future services - particularly adult social care.
From September 2018 the council plans to:
- remove automatic discretionary subsidised support for pupils accessing mainstream Post 16 education and;
- introduce a Personal Travel Budget (PTB), a bus pass or a parental contribution to the transport required for Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) 16 years to 25 years travel.
Under the proposals, families with a young person over the age of 16 would be responsible for arranging their own transport to and from their child’s place of education. This would be instead of a bus provided by the Council or, for example, a vehicle coming to collect them each day.
Feedback can be provided via an online survey. A downloadable summary of the proposed new policy is also available to view at: www.swindon.gov.uk/educationtransportconsultation
Any responses to the consultation must be provided by Wednesday, 28 June.
Parents who would like to speak to someone about the proposals can call Gareth Cheal on 01793 465802 or email: [email protected]
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