Have your say on home to school travel proposals (by 22nd February)

A consultation event has been arranged to help people have their say on proposals to update home to school travel policies.

Derbyshire County Council is seeking views on plans to change travel policies for eligible school children aged five to 16, Post 16 learners and students with special educational needs and disabilities.

It follows updated legal guidance from the government providing greater clarity on the role councils’ play in helping to transport children to school, giving an opportunity to consider updating current policies to make them more inclusive and promote independence.

Now a public drop-in event is being held for people to find out more about the proposals. It will be held at County Hall, Matlock on Tuesday 10th February from 10am and 2pm.

Anyone can attend and officers will be on hand to explain the proposals and help people to fill in the survey.

However, for those that can’t attend in person, a virtual session can be arranged on the day for the chance to speak to officers remotely for up to 20 minutes. This must be requested in advance by emailing CS.HTSTConsultation @ derbyshire.gov.uk

Councillor Simon Mabbott, the Cabinet Member for SEND and Education, said: “We’re committed to providing efficient and safe transport in line with our legal obligations to support parents in getting their children to school.

“The guidance issued by the government provides us with an opportunity to consider updating our current policies, which have been in place for 10 years, and to look at how we can make them more inclusive and promote independence.

“We are keen to hear from as many people as possible to help us shape a future where travel to school supports wellbeing, attendance and access to high-quality education for all children and young people across Derbyshire.

“No decisions will be made about the future of any of our services until we’d had chance to hear the views of everyone and take these fully into account.”

The statutory guidance states it is the responsibility of parents to make sure their children attend, including making travel arrangements to get them to and from school.

Up to 10,000 eligible children and young people are supported by the council to get to school each day, involving 1,140 transport routes and 145 different transport providers.

Pupils qualify for school transport if they are under eight and live more than two miles away from their school or three miles if they are over eight; the walking route is deemed unsafe, they have SEND or mobility issues or families are on qualifying benefits.

Not all transport is provided for free, with some parents contributing towards the cost through discretionary arrangements.

To find out more about the proposals and have their say people should visit this link.

For help to fill in the online questionnaire or to request a paper copy please email admissions.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk or ring 01629 537479.

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 22nd February.