U-turn on school transport in Warwickshire will 'make parent's lives much better' says council leader

Previously the policy stated that the distance was measured between home and the closest school even though the child might not have been in that catchment area
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A policy U-turn surrounding school transport has been welcomed by the leader of Warwickshire County Council.

The change means that children under eight living at least two miles away from their priority or catchment school will now be eligible for free transport.

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For older children the school needs to be three miles away unless they are from a low-income family.

A policy U-turn surrounding school transport has been welcomed by the leader of Warwickshire County Council.A policy U-turn surrounding school transport has been welcomed by the leader of Warwickshire County Council.
A policy U-turn surrounding school transport has been welcomed by the leader of Warwickshire County Council.

Previously the policy stated that the distance was measured between home and the closest school even though the child might not have been in that catchment area.

A report before the cabinet meeting on Thursday (September 10) explained that the policy was changed in January 2018 but that a public consultation held over the summer found that two-thirds of the 418 responses agreed with the proposed change.

The council’s portfolio holder for education and learning Cllr Colin Hayfield (Con, Coleshill South and Arley) explained: “What this does is make a very small but important change to our policy. It relaxes one of the changes that was made a couple of years ago.

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“We said that you would only be entitled to school transport to your nearest school. That created problems particularly in the rural areas.”

Cabinet members approved the change and council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe (Con, Stour and the Vale) supported the decision.

She said: “I have experienced the problems. In rural communities it is very difficult because you have catchment areas which might be further away by a whisker.

“It has been very difficult for one or two parents and caused great distress so I am hugely grateful that we have seen a pragmatic approach and we have amended this.

"It will make parents’ lives much, much better.”

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The change will not benefit parents of children attending selective and faith schools where the transport policy remains unaltered.

Around ten per cent of those who commented as part of the consultation raised this matter and eight per cent felt that transport should be free to whichever school a pupil chooses to attend as that would support parental choice and offer a school best suited to each individual child.