Travel change impact set to be explored

The impact of changes to school travel for children with special educational needs is set to be explored in more depth following feedback.

A new report being considered by Leicestershire County Council's cabinet reveals that there were over 560 responses to a recent consultation.

Parents, schools and young people were asked for their views last autumn on plans to update the council's policy and bring it in line with mainstream school transport rules.

Feedback highlighted not disadvantaging families with disabled children, as well as concerns about extra costs and the impact of changes on young people.

The report recommends carrying out further work to consider these views before any decisions are taken.

Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet member for the children and young people's service, said: "We have spoken and listened to the families and young people affected and I'm pleased that so many have responded to the consultation.

"It's important to make Leicestershire’s policy more relevant, fair and cost-effective but we need to fully understand the issues raised before taking any decisions."

The proposals could see changes including extending travel assistance in certain cases to families where a parent/carer has a disability and reviewing the entitlement to free home to school transport.

Any changes would not be introduced until September 2013 and are expected to save around £300,000.

The cabinet will discuss the report at a meeting next Friday (10th).

If agreed, a further report about proposed changes would be discussed by the cabinet in the spring.

The consultation ran between 19th September and 16th December. Over 2,000 letters and booklets were sent to parents, events at special schools, meetings with teachers and discussions with pupils. People could also respond through the council's website.