Issue - meetings

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport Budget and Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Home to School Transport Policy

Meeting: 21/11/2017 - Cabinet (Item 9)

9 Special Educational Needs Transport Budget, Proposed Home to School Transport Policy Changes and Associated Consultation pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided details of a proposal to consult on changes to Medway’s SEN Home to School Transport Policy to increase the flexibility of options, support potential cashable savings and cost avoidance and ensure spend would remain within the budget envelope.

 

The report provided details of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) survey on home to school transport spend in 2015/16, the findings of which, in relation to Medway, were set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

 

The report also provided details of the proposed specific changes which would be subject to consultation, as set out in section 4 of the report.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

132/2017

The Cabinet agreed to a 6 week consultation period commencing in December 2017 on changes to Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport Policy as set out in section 4 to the report. The Medway Parents and Carers Forum will be invited to assist in facilitating this process in line with the Partnership Agreement endorsed by Cabinet in September 2017. Feedback will be reported through the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 8 March 2017 for further consideration and decision by Cabinet on 10 April 2017.

 

Reasons:

 

Changes are required in relation to the fulfilment of the Council’s statutory duties to provide travel assistance to pupils with Special Educational Needs. This is in order to ensure financial sustainability. An open consultation process will help to inform the viability and acceptability of the proposed changes to parents and carers in receipt of travel assistance.