To:      Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning

13^th May 2022

Education Transport Policy for Bracknell Forest Students aged 16+

Executive Director of People

1          Purpose of Report

1.1       The report seeks formal approval of the Education Travel policy, for students aged 16 and over, for the period 2022 -2023.

2          Recommendation(s)

2.1       That the Executive Member agrees the Education Transport Policy Statement 2022/23, for Bracknell Forest Students aged 16 and over.

3          Reasons for Recommendation(S)

3.1       To ensure compliance with statutory requirements to publish a compliant travel policy for students aged 16 and over.

3.2       The DfE issued Post 16 education transport guidance in January 2019 which Local Authorities must have regard to when issuing their transport policies.  This guidance has been followed in the development of the policy.

4          Alternative Options Considered

4.1       No alternative option was considered.  This policy is not significantly changed from the policy adopted for 2021-2022.

5          Supporting Information

5.1       Local Authorities are required to publish a transport statement each year, setting out the travel arrangements they will make to support young people of sixth form age and adults aged 19 and over (including those with an Education, Health and Care plan) in education and training.

5.2       In January 2019 the DfE updated statutory guidance on Post 16 education transport. It requires that Local Authorities assist Post 16 learners with an opportunity to take advantage of Post 16 education by facilitating their travel arrangements, particularly those on low incomes and those with disabilities.

5.3       The Home to School Travel Policy for Bracknell Forest children aged 5-16 (formerly the Mainstream Travel Policy) has already been published.

            Changes to the policy statement

5.4       Very few changes have been made to the policy that was in place for the previous academic year, as there have been no significant changes to the landscape of education provision.   A full review of the policy will be undertaken during the 2022/23 academic year, to enable the council to respond to any changes in the availability of suitable provision, or changing levels of demand.  The council will work with students, parents and carers in the development of the new policy.

5.5       The definition of “students of sixth-form age (Paragraph 1)” has been updated to include students over the age of 16, who are out of cohort and are repeating year 11.

5.6       The potential for providing transport support where a student is attending an education provider that is not their nearest provision, by reason of their, or their parents’, faith or religion (Paragraph 1.1 – penultimate bullet point) has been added.

5.7       The main change to the policy statement is a small increase to the financial contribution required from parents / students (Paragraph 1.2).  In the 2021-2022 academic year the contribution required was £735 per annum, or £367.50 for low-income households.  It is proposed to increase this for the 2022-2023 academic year to £750 and £375 respectively.

5.8       No other significant changes have been made to the policy this year.

6          Consultation and Other Considerations

Legal Advice

6.1       The Borough Solicitor has advised the presenting department on the relevant legal issues.  

Financial Advice

6.2       Based on projected numbers of students being issued with ECHP’s, the 2022-23 Home to School Transport budget was increased by £0.650m (in excess of inflationary increases). The outturn position for 2021-22 was an overspend of £0.697m which suggests that the number of students is above the original projections. Whilst any overspend shouldn’t be at the same level as 2021-22, EHCP numbers are expected to rise by 7% in 2022. There is no capacity within the existing budget to absorb these additional costs and as such it will need to be reported within the year as a budget pressure and included within the annual budget setting process for future years.

Other Consultation Responses

6.3       There would normally be a requirement to consult on the policy, but as the basis of the policy remains unchanged, with only a small increase in the financial contribution requirement, this was not felt necessary. 

Equalities Impact Assessment

6.4       See attached

Strategic Risk Management Issues

6.5      

Climate Change Implications

6.6       The recommendations in Section 2 above are expected to:

Have no impact on emissions of CO_2.

The reason the Council believes that this will have no impact on emissions is that there is no anticipated increase or decrease in the level of transport provided.

Health & Wellbeing Considerations

6.7      

Background Papers

DfE statutory guidance:

Transport to education and training for people aged 16 and over - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Contact for further information

Bobby Mulheir, Delivery Directorate - 01344 352096

bobby.mulheir@bracknell-forest.gov.uk