Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Hoddinott

Commissioner:         Kenny (in advisory role)

Recommendations:

1.         That the Home to School Transport Policy 2018-19 be approved.

2.         That the Home to School Transport Assessment Matrix be approved.

3.         That approval be given to the introduction of a formal annual review of transport provision, which includes engagement with families.

4.         That an assessment of existing service users be conducted to review their circumstances to enable participation on a voluntary basis ahead of the introduction of the formal annual review;

5.         That approval be given to the introduction of a personal travel budget scheme to provide transport support to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

6.         That post-16 transport travel arrangements be revised to replace direct transport as a first option with personal travel budgets for those students with special educational needs and disabilities.

7.         That approval be given to the consideration of alternative methods of support for particular groups or individuals such as walking bus, cycle or moped schemes, when appropriate.

8.         That approval be given to the introduction of independent travel training as a central resource in Rotherham to support arrangements currently delivered by Special Schools for children from the age of 14+ to enable independence and that travel training commence from June 2018 for appropriate young people.

9.         That personal travel budgets for all students making new applications for post-16 travel be instigated from 1 July 2018, and existing users of the post-16 service are permitted to apply on a voluntary basis from 1 May 2018.

10.      That a transition period to validate the Transport Assessment Matrix be effective from 1 May 2018, with the full implementation of the policy for all new applicants with effect from 1 July 2018.

11.      That children and young people in need of home to school transport, and including transport operators, be engaged as part of the transition and implementation process.

12.      That any amendments to the Transport Assessment Matrix, resulting from the transition period, to be delegated to the Assistant Director for Community Safety and Street Scene.

Further to Minute No. 42 of the meeting of the Cabinet and Commissioners held on 11^th September, 2017, consideration was given to the report which provided the outcome of the consultation on the Home to School Transport Policy for Rotherham, including post-16 students and children with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) and provides recommendations for the service provision.

The revised Home to School Transport Policy (Appendix 1) provided advice and guidance for families regarding the support available to them relating to a range of transport options for young people in Rotherham and would seek to develop and promote independent travel training as a central service in Rotherham and apply it particularly at transitional stages.

Any changes proposed to these services would ensure the continuation of suitable, safe, home to school travel assistance for eligible children in accordance with the Council’s statutory duties, taking into account an individual’s assessed needs. The policy must also contribute to the Council’s priority of ensuring every child had the best start in life.

Cabinet Members welcomed the proposed Policy, especially the transition to  independent travel training whilst complying with the statutory duty to transport children to and from school.

This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-scrutiny process who were in support of the recommendations, subject to further investigation into the the cost/benefit feasibility of operating an in-house service for those requiring home to school transport rather than reliance on taxis and for a further report on the policy’s implementation being submitted to Improving Places Select Commission in six months’ time.

Councillor Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, was happy to initiate an investigation into operating an in-house home to school service as an operational alternative and where possible initiate efficiencies.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Home to School Transport Policy 2018-19 be approved.

(2)  That the Home to School Transport Assessment Matrix be approved.

(3)  That approval be given to the introduction of a formal annual review of transport provision, which includes engagement with families.

(4)  That an assessment of existing service users be conducted to review their circumstances to enable participation on a voluntary basis ahead of the introduction of the formal annual review;

(5) That approval be given to the introduction of a personal travel budget scheme to provide transport support to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

(6)  That post-16 transport travel arrangements be revised to replace direct transport as a first option with personal travel budgets for those students with special educational needs and disabilities.

(7)  That approval be given to the consideration of alternative methods of support for particular groups or individuals such as walking bus, cycle or moped schemes, when appropriate.

(8)  That approval be given to the introduction of independent travel training as a central resource in Rotherham to support arrangements currently delivered by Special Schools for children from the age of 14+ to enable independence and that travel training commence from June 2018 for appropriate young people.

(9)  That personal travel budgets for all students making new applications for post-16 travel be instigated from 1 July 2018, and existing users of the post-16 service are permitted to apply on a voluntary basis from 1 May 2018.

(10)  That a transition period to validate the Transport Assessment Matrix be effective from 1 May 2018, with the full implementation of the policy for all new applicants with effect from 1 July 2018.

(11)  That children and young people in need of home to school transport, and including transport operators, be engaged as part of the transition and implementation process.

(12)  That any amendments to the Transport Assessment Matrix, resulting from the transition period, to be delegated to the Assistant Director for Community Safety and Street Scene.

(13)    That an investigation be initiated into the cost/benefit feasibility of operating an in-house service for those requiring home to school transport rather than reliance on taxis

(14)  That a further report on the policy’s implementation be submitted to Improving Places Select Commission in six months’ time.