Issue - meetings

To consider the enclosed presentation detailing an overview of the Home to School Service which was due for consideration by OSMB on 14 January 2025.

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Assistant Director for Community Safety and Street Scene and supported by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services and the Assistant Director of Education which detailed an overview of the Home to School Transport Service.

The presentation drew attention to: -

·            Statutory Duties

v   Policy guidance.

v   ‘Home to School Travel and Transport Guidance’ 2014 updated June 2023 (DfE).

v   ‘Statutory guidance for local authorities for Post-16 travel support to education and training’, revised January 2019 (DfE).

v   SEND Code of Practice.

·            Home to School Service Overview

v   Home to school sits as part of Regeneration and Environment with Education and Health Care Planning (EHCP) and processes in Children and Young Peoples Services.

v   Mix of EHCP and Statutory Travellers in the cohort.

v   Direct travel solutions and commissioned solutions.

v   Independent Travel Training (ITT) Offer.

v   Services are also provided to Adults.

v   Mixture of solutions including ITT, Personal Travel Budgets, Zoom Zero Bus Pass, Shared Transport and Single Occupancy.

·            Cohort Overview

1805 Children and Young People receive home to school transport.

1241 are children with an EHCP.

v   Children attending their nearest suitable school which is more than the statutory walking distance. (NAS).

v   Unable to walk because of SEND (EHCP).

v   From low-income households.

v   Children in Care who don’t have an EHCP (LAC).

v   Children/ Young People outside of compulsory school age including under 5’s and 16+ (DISC).

·            Budget Overview

·            Demand Overview

·            Actions to date

Since 2018/19, a series of actions have been taken which include:

v   Separation of the Transport function under a new Head of Service role to provide greater focus

v   Development of data and understanding of the transport cohort

v   Driving cost efficiencies through improved logistics planning

v   Reviewing single occupancy journeys

v   Introducing an Independent Travel Training offer

v   Benchmarking with other local authorities

v   Strengthening of the application process

v   Reducing the conversion rate of young people with an EHCP who require transport

v   Review and implementation of Policy.

·            Impact

v   Benchmarking shows Rotherham largely performs well with a need to focus on post 16

v   13 Candidates successfully travel trained providing vital skills and reducing cost, programme growing

v   Whilst demand increases the proportion of single occupancy routes decreases

v   Reduction in the growth of 16-19 costs

v   Significant cost avoidance.

·            Future Plans

v   Continuing to manage demand and delivery as efficiently and effectively as possible

v   Review of Post 16-19 and Post 19-25 transport offer

v   IT solutions improvements (incorporating route optimisation software)

v   Ensuring delivery is appropriately supported to drive efficiencies

v   Review of transport operator procurement arrangements.

A discussion and a question-and-answer session ensued, and the following issues were raised and clarified: -

·       Independent travel training would not be appropriate for all of the children receiving home to school transport. This would consider factors such as age, ability, and willingness. Some children with education health and care plan (EHCP) may not be suitable due to their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87

To consider the presentation detailing an overview of the Home to School Service.

At the Chair’s discretion and the Boards agreement, this item was deferred to the next meeting.