Consultation on changes to Home to School / College Transport Policy 2025

Overview

Warwickshire County Council wishes to gather views on the changes being proposed to the Home to School and College Transport Policy. These changes are to bring the policy in line with national guidance (Travel to school for children of compulsory school age, 2023); clarify the wording on the Home to School and College Transport policy (to be Children's and Young People's Travel Assistance policy); and ensure Warwickshire County Council is meeting its statutory requirements whilst providing an efficient service.

Like local authorities up and down the country, Warwickshire County Council continues to face extreme financial challenges. The Council is committed to providing more efficient, integrated services whilst ensuring that its statutory duties are met. 

The policy is being changed for several reasons:

• To update the policy to better reflect the changes that the Department for Education made to its statutory guidance in 2024.
• To revise non-statutory duties.
• To ensure consistencies in the transport policy.
• To make sure the service is working as efficiently as financially possible.

The proposed changes will:

• Update the policy in line with recent changes in the statutory guidance.
• Revise non-statutory duties.
• Ensure consistency across the county.
• Simplify the application and assessment process. 
• Ensure the walking routes assessment is in line with national guidance and implemented effectively.
• Reflect changes in how to conduct assessments for low-income families, in line with new government guidance surrounding working tax credit, universal credit and free school meals.

The proposals being consulted on align Warwickshire’s policy and practise with national statutory guidance and continue to ensure that legislation is complied with. The Council is not proposing as part of this process to make any changes to walking distances, which are the responsibility of parliament as set out in legislation.

When would the proposed changes apply?

If approved these proposals would be operational by September 2026 and would apply to all new applications for transport.

Existing pupils who access Home to School transport assistance who have a change in circumstances requiring a new application (such as a house move) will also be assessed in line with the new proposed policy.

Do you need information in Easy Read? 

Easy Read formats use pictures and simple words to make written information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities and other people who find it harder to read standard information.

Why your views matter?

This consultation will inform the future Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people within Warwickshire, including those that are Post 16.  

We would like to hear all views on these proposals including levels of support or opposition. We are also seeking views on any suggestions you may have to improve our proposals.  

How to take part?

The main way to feed back is using the online survey link in the green box below. 

• If you need a paper survey or Easy Read survey please email (hometoschooltransport@warwickshire.gov.uk) or call 01926 410410.
• If you need help completing the survey online or need information in another language or format, please get in touch using the contact information above and we will arrange help.
• If you want to respond in writing you can send your response by email (hometoschooltransport@warwickshire.gov.uk) or post your response to Transport Delivery (consultation) Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4SP. 

Schools and other educational settings will be consulted through informal and formal meetings and events.

Information events

We are also holding a series of information sessions both virtually and in person across Warwickshire. Places are limited so please use the link below to book on. Once submitting the form, you will receive the full information for the session via email (please check spam/junk folders for this email). Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis, but if your chosen session is fully booked, you will have an opportunity to join a waiting list.

Link to booking form: Home to School Consultation Sessions 
(This link will open in a new tab or window)

Supporting information

To help you to consider the proposals and respond to this consultation we have provided links to supporting information.

What will happen after the consultation?

Following the consultation all feedback will be analysed and will inform the final proposals about changes to Home to School Travel Assistance Policy which will be taken to Cabinet where a final decision will be made in Summer 2026.

If approved, the proposals will be implemented in September 2026.