The Home to School Transport Policy aims to provide guidance for parents/carers, young people and young adults on transport assistance available for pupils aged 3 -25 years of age.
Warwickshire County Council is proposing a change to the definition of a pupil's Qualifying School (contained in paragraph 2.3 of the draft policy below). In all other material aspects, the Policy remains unchanged.
At the moment, a pupil’s qualifying school is defined by Warwickshire County Council to mean only the pupil’s closest school to home with a space available for the pupil by the shortest available route (this will be a driving route if the journey is over the statutory walking distance or a walking route if the journey is less that the statutory walking distance). This may not be the priority area school (sometimes referred to as ‘catchment school’) but will be the one physically closest to the student’s home address.
The County Council are proposing to change the definition of the qualifying school for a pupil to mean either the closest qualifying school (see paragraph 2.2 of the draft policy) to the pupil’s home address, with places available, that provides education appropriate to the age, ability, and aptitude of the pupil and takes into account any special educational needs that the pupil may have, or the priority area school in which the pupil resides. This means that some children will have two qualifying schools.
Low-income families would continue to benefit from extended rights eligibility criteria.
The definition for a pupil’s qualifying school will continue to take into account any special educational needs that the pupil may have.
The calculation of the qualifying school for a pupil who has gained a place at a selective school will remain unchanged and will include non-selective comprehensive schools which provide schooling for those of all ability levels. As such transport to selective schools will only be provided if it is the closest qualifying school to the child’s home, taking into account all relevant secondary schools. The distance from home to school will also need to exceed the relevant statutory walking distance.
Similarly, the calculation of qualifying school for a pupil who has gained a place at a faith school remains unchanged and will include non-faith schools which provide schooling for those of all faiths. As such transport to faith schools will only be provided if it is the closest qualifying school to the child’s home, taking into account all relevant schools. The exception to this will be when the pupil is of secondary school age and qualifies under the extended eligibility criteria (see section 3.3). The distance from home to school will also need to exceed the relevant statutory walking distance.
Where Local Authorities are proposing key changes to their local policy on school travel arrangements, a consultation with interested parties should be undertaken.
We welcome your comments on the proposed change to the definition of a pupil's qualifying school in Warwickshire's Home to School Transport Policy. You can feed back in the following ways:
Your can request a paper copy of the survey by telephone (01926 742058) or email transportconsultation@warwickshire.gov.uk and return it to the postal address above. You can also request an alternative format or language this way.
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