Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2020 to 2021 Consultation

Overview

We would like to hear from you about our proposed Post-16 Transport Policy Statement for 2020-2021. We are keen to receive feedback from parents, carers, young people and learning providers.

What a Post-16 Transport Policy Statement is

There is no automatic entitlement to free transport for students aged over 16. The purpose of the Policy Statement is to set out what transport support is available for students aged 16+ so they can attend their place of learning. It should:

• be clear and easy to understand
• include support information for all students aged 16-18
• include additional support information for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 19-25
• consider the needs of different students and their families
• ensure that young people with particular needs receive appropriate support
• include information about services from local travel companies, schools and colleges
• include information about how we make decisions on who receives help with travel
• include information about how students and their families or carers can appeal against a travel support decision

Why we are consulting on the Policy Statement

We have a legal duty to prepare and publish an annual Post-16 Transport Policy Statement. We must ensure that the preparation involves those people who will be affected by it.

We also want to make sure the Policy Statement is clear and easy to understand.

Important announcement about charges

We recognise that the current Coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty for many people. This includes uncertainty about students’ attendance on education and training courses.

We also understand the financial impact caused by the pandemic and lockdown. We are committed to supporting young people and their families through this difficult period.

For these reasons, we have taken a decision to suspend post-16 transport charges for SEND students during the academic year 2020 to 2021.

Proposed changes

We are proposing that the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement is changed for 2020-21 to make the wording clearer, and consistent with the Home to School Transport Policy.

The proposed changes are listed below:

• remove information about transport charges for SEND students for the academic year 2020-21 (section 6)
• have clearer wording about the mileage allowance (section 4)
• update the information about payments for SEND students aged 19+ (section 8)

We are not proposing any changes to the Home to School Transport Policy. That Policy was agreed by Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet in March 2019.

Please visit our Draft Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2020-21 webpage for more information. You can let us have your comments by completing the short feedback form below.

What happens next

We will review all the consultation feedback and may make changes to the draft Policy Statement. The final document will go to our Cabinet Member for Education and Skills for approval.

Once the Policy Statement is approved, it will be published on our Draft Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2020-21 webpage.