24th February 2016

School Bus Service

The Council is only required by law to meet the cost of home to school transport for pupils , from non low income families, where they attend their nearest school and this school is over three miles for pupils aged eight years of age or over. The distance is two miles for pupils under eight. Prior to September 2011, the Council exercise discretion and granted free transport who attended faith schools, met the distance criterion and had been admitted to the school on denominational grounds. As a result of reductions in Council budgets from September 2011, parents of pupils in these circumstances were required to make a contributory charge. For the academic year 2015/16 this annual contribution was £505 per qualifying child.

The Council is planning to remove this discretion from its home to school transport policy for all pupils from September 2016. This means that these pupils will no longer receive any transport assistance from the Council from this date.

It is intended that this will apply to new starters in September 2016 and to those who are currently in receipt of this discretionary subsidy

The Council is undertaking consultation to allow views from all parties as to how they may be affected by this policy change.

Views and comments from all Lancashire schools, academies and parents (and any other interested parties) are invited.

In addition it would be extremely helpful if you would publicise the consultation the opportunity for your parents so that they may comment on the planned policy change. This consultation will be promoted through other outlets, but it is always helpful to have publicity via each school and academies links with parents. A note is attached with the suggested wording that might be used on your website and in any newsletters and bulletins to parents.

Schools, academies and parents should respond on line via the Council’s website utilising this link https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=145442626666.

For parents without access to the internet , they can express their views on how they might be affected by the changes to: Denominational Transport Consultation, Pupil Access Team, PO Box 61, County Hall, Preston PR1 8RJ. The closing date for all responses will be midnight on Sunday 10 April 2016..

The Council will publish on their website and on the Schools Portal the results of the consultation sometime around 22 April 2016.

I do hope you will be able to assist us in this matter.