Post-16 transport policy review

Public consultation on travel assistance for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Why we are proposing to make changes to post-16 transport arrangements for learners with SEND

Transport Statement

All councils must produce a Transport Statement setting out the arrangements for enabling eligible post-16 learners to access education. It is to support eligible post-16 learners with SEND and supports those pupils who, due to exceptional circumstances, need transport assistance.

Like a lot of other authorities, we are in a position financially where we need to review our Transport Statement in order to make savings whilst still supporting some of our most vulnerable young people and their families to access education.

Current provision

Currently, Leeds City Council provides transport to around 3500 young people to their education setting each day. While the Council is statutorily obliged to make free of charge home to school travel arrangements for eligible children of compulsory school age, there is no similar statutory obligation on the local authority to provide transport for post-16 learners.

However, the council currently still provides substantial discretionary assistance for post-16 learners with SEND.  Recent analysis indicates that this assistance costs the local authority approximately £4m -£4.5m and may not always be promoting independence for young people.

We want to ensure that the transport assistance we provide is the most appropriate for young people and their families, promotes independence and offers choice, while at the same time delivering a financially sustainable model of transport support.

The council is facing its largest financial challenge in recent history and we are committed to engaging with our communities so we can collectively shape how we deliver services moving into the future.

What we are proposing

The proposed changes we are consulting on still aim to provide a level of discretionary assistance for learners aged 16-25 with SEND, whilst increasing flexibility for families and young people by providing them with more autonomy to develop transport solutions that work for them as an alternative to the council doing it for them.  We understand, with rising demand and reduced resources, that the current way we provide assistance can be restrictive and limiting for some families. By reviewing the way we provide discretionary assistance, we can focus support and available resources to those young people and families most in need.

Leeds City Council's Children and Young People's Plan 2023-2028 focuses on children in all areas of the city having the best start in life and young people having the skills that enable them to realise their potential and to thrive. These priorities are at the front of our minds when considering every decision we need to take.

We are committed to involving you and would like your views on the following proposals before recommendations are presented to Leeds City Council's Executive Board later this year.

Any changes would be implemented for young people newly entering post-16 education in September 2025 and onwards. All young people already in post-16 education at that point will continue on the current policy, except in a small number of cases where reassessment is required due to a change in circumstances, such as a change in their medical needs, a house move, a change of learning setting, or at certain key transition points in their learning where a new application for transport assistance is required.

We remain committed to supporting young people who are eligible for transport assistance and can travel independently to do so and have increased our Independent Travel Training capacity. This offer will continue to be available.

Proposal 1: Limiting post-16 transport assistance to those living more than 3 miles from their education setting

Under the Children's Transport Policy, if you are a school pupil aged eight to sixteen and meet the eligibility criteria for transport assistance (see section 3 of the transport policy here for details of eligibility criteria) transport assistance can be requested if you live three or more miles from the nearest qualifying school.  This proposal is to apply the same criteria to post-16 learners applying for transport assistance. 

Proposal 1 could be introduced on its own or alongside any of the other 3 proposals set out below. 

Proposal 2: Offer of a Personal Transport Allowance for eligible post-16 learners with SEND

Under the proposed arrangements, post-16 learners with SEND would receive a yearly flat-rate Personal Transport Allowance (PTA) based on distance from home to their learning setting, to enable them to make their own travel arrangements, as follows:

• Between 3 and 10 miles – £1,000 per year
• Between 10.01 and 20 miles – £2,000 per year
• Over 20.01 miles – £3,000 per year

Personal Transport Allowances enable a young person, or their family, to make their own travel arrangements and are generally significantly better value for money than centrally organised minibuses and taxis. Many families already choose to have a Personal Transport Allowance and find this works well for them.

As a public organisation we must make sure that money is spent in a way that is the most cost-effective. Therefore, for some young people it may mean that council-arranged transport is the most cost-effective form of transport assistance. We also understand that for some young people with the most complex needs, council-organised transport arrangements, such as a taxi or a minibus, will be the most effective arrangements for them. In these instances, a PTA would not be offered.

Proposal 2 could be introduced on its own, or along with any of the other 3 proposals.

Proposal 3: Introduce a charge as a contribution towards the high cost of council-organised transport arrangements for post-16 learners, excluding post-19, with SEND

It may be the case that, due to the complexity of a learner's needs, or because it is assessed to be the most cost-effective option, council-organised transport arrangements, such as a taxi or a minibus, are required for some learners.

Under this proposal, all eligible students who receive Council-organised transport would contribute to the cost. The proposed contribution is £300 per year, the same as the price of a yearly (Zero Fare) School Bus Pass.

The Department for Education states that where learners over the age of 19 would be eligible for transport assistance via adult services, they cannot be charged for transport assistance. For this reason, this proposal does not apply to post-19 learners. 

Proposal 3 could be introduced on its own or along with any of the other three proposals.

Proposal 4: Transport assistance is limited to post-16 learners only, with eligibility for post-19 learners removed

The local authority does not have a statutory obligation to provide transport assistance for post-19 learners. The DfE states that where learners over 19 would be eligible for transport assistance via adult services, then they are not to be charged for education transport assistance and, therefore, if assistance is provided it must be free of charge.

Proposal 4 is that the existing discretionary transport assistance for post-19 learners is withdrawn. 

When would any changes be made and who would be affected

Any changes would be implemented for young people newly entering post-16 education in September 2025 and onwards. All young people already in post-16 education at that point will continue on the current policy, except in a small number of cases where reassessment is required due to a change in circumstances, such as a change in their medical needs, a house move, a change of learning setting, or at certain key transition points in their learning where a new application for transport assistance is required.

Find out more and share you views about the proposals

This public consultation will run from 24 June 2024 to 23 July 2024.

Through this public consultation we would really like to hear your views about the proposals, and we are offering you several ways you can come and talk with us.

We encourage you to attend one of our consultation sessions:

Joining an online consultation session

All online consultation sessions will be held using Microsoft Teams using the meeting ID and passcode information above.

Online Survey

You can also give us your views by completing the online survey.

Have your say on the post-16 transport policy review online External link

Background documents

Executive Board 19th June 2024 - Agenda and Recording.

Contact Details

Email post16transport.review@leeds.gov.uk if you have any issues relating to the consultation.

Glossary

Executive Board

The Executive Board is the principal decision-making body of the council. The Leader of Council chairs a meeting of the Executive Board once a month at the Civic Hall.

Full Council

Where all councillors meet to debate decisions on the Council's most important policies and budget.

Key Decision

Any Executive decision which requires significant expenditure or savings, having regard to the Council's budget, for the service or the function to which it relates.