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North Somerset Council held a consultation between 3 February and 17 March with the aim of designing a fair, sustainable and supportive HTST service for families now and in future.
The findings and recommendations of this consultation are now available to view at P16 SEND Consultation Analysis.pdf.
Post-16 is a non-statutory service and the proposed changes exceeds DfE guidance for Post-16 Transport, remains a comprehensive offer and meets obligations in terms of supporting Children’s with ensuring access to education.
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Executive Member for children’s services, families and life-long learning at North Somerset Council said: “The revised Home to School Transport Policy aims to promote independence and support children and young people to arrive at their setting ready to learn. It also will promote the benefits of using public transport, benefit the environment and help the service remain sustainable. We want to ensure children and young people get to school in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way.”
Key areas of the report focus on alternative transport options, the council’s Independent Travel Training (ITT) offer and the Travel Policy Appeals process.
Cllr Hannah Young, Executive Member for highways and transport at North Somerset Council said: “These proposed changes will support improved confidence and independence helping prepare children and young people for employment and adulthood. They are also more cost-effective, reducing spend on the service so that its sustainable for generations to come. The council has seen a 424 per cent increase in HTST Post-16 Service Users over the last five years with costs increasing from £114K in 2020/21 to £552k in 2024/25.”
Changes to the non-statutory policy include:
• Removing the charges for Post-16 SEND only
• Confirmation that the Home to School Travel offer could form a Bus or Train Ticket (supported by Independent Travel Training)
• Demand Responsive Travel (such as WESTlink)
• Independent Travel Training as a stand-alone course
• A cycling or wheeling allowance
• Bespoke Personal Travel Allowances
• Access to the vacant seat payment scheme (at no charge, and proposed to be renamed to Vacant Seat Scheme)
• Alternative Travel Options – the council will not unnecessarily place people in the appeals process. They will use their discretion to award those who need this option based on a case-by-case basis.
A decision will be made by Cllrs Hannah Young, Executive lead for transport, and Catherine Gibbons, Executive Lead for children, families and young people, by the end of May on whether to approve the adoption of a new Post-16 Policy for young people starting college from September 2025.
For more information on Home to School Transport including a copy of the report, please visit About home to school transport | North Somerset Council.