Calderdale Council will introduce revisions to its policy concerning complimentary travel between home and school for eligible children and young people.
Providing free home-to-school transport aligns with the Council’s legal obligations and its commitment to diminishing disparities, particularly in assisting families facing significant challenges.
Certain children and young individuals, such as those with special educational needs, or disabilities, or who are from low-income households, may require additional support to commute to school. The Council addresses these needs by furnishing various free home-to-school travel options, including school or public buses and Council-operated transportation.
In line with the updated statutory guidance from the Department for Education, the Council has undertaken a review of its Home to School Transport Policy.
Feedback on the proposed policy amendments was sought from Calderdale residents during December 2023 and January 2024. Cabinet Members are scheduled to deliberate on the public consultation responses on Monday, 11 March 2024, determining whether to present the proposed policy for final approval to the Full Council.
Cllr Jenny Lynn, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said:
“We want all Calderdale children and young people to have a good education and a strong start in life so they can thrive and achieve their best.
“We understand that some need a helping hand to get to and from school, and we do everything we can to support local families.
“More and more people are needing free home to school transport, and our budgets are under growing pressure. The proposed updated policy aims to help people in the most cost-effective way, by providing transport to the nearest school that can meet the child’s specific needs, and which has an available place. This supports our work to provide more special school places within Calderdale, and therefore reduce the distance pupils travel and the impact on the environment through reduced emissions.”
The Council’s innovative Independent Travel Training programme is also supporting local pupils to get to and from school. Trainers work with schools across Calderdale to teach children how to use public transport independently – an important life skill and a step towards independent living. Many pupils who have worked with the Independent Travel Trainers have gone on to full-time employment, which has helped them to live a larger life in line with the Vision 2024 for Calderdale.
If approved by the Cabinet and Full Council, the updated Home to School Transport Policy will take effect from the academic year 2025/26.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting will be held on Monday 11 March at Halifax Town Hall from 3pm. The meeting can also be viewed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
