Council to cut post-16 school SEND transport
GettyA local authority is to cut the amount of subsidised transport it provides to post 16-year-old pupils with special educational needs (SEND) travelling to school.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said it was spending an "unsustainable" amount on the scheme for 105 students and that costs were expected to rise in the future.
It said it cost about £4,700 to provide the travel arrangements for each pupil, a total of about £500,000 a year.
As part of the cuts, transport will only be available for pupils who need to travel more than three miles. Post-16 SEND pupils currently receiving transport help will not be affected by the new policy unless they need to make a new application.
Parents to give evidence
However, discretion may be applied in certain circumstances, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The local authority will also ask parents to give evidence as to why they cannot provide transport for their children themselves.
It said work and other childcare commitments would "generally" not be considered a reason for the council to provide subsidised transport.
It also will not provide assistance for pupils enrolled in education providers outside of the borough, except for specific circumstances.
The new policy should take effect from the start of the next academic year.
The council has no statutory duty to provide transport for post-16 SEND pupils and receives no specific funding for this, it says.
A report detailing the plans also noted that many colleges and special schools already offered subsidised transport.
It also said the new policy would help young people aged 16 and over to develop independent travel skills. The local authority said it would aid this work with the use of "independent travel trainers".