Purpose

Approval of Home to School Transport Policy for students of
Statutory School age (5 to 16 – Reception to Year
11)

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 
That the Executive approved
the revised Policy for Home to School Transport for
publication.
 
Reasons for Recommendation
– To ensure that statutory obligations are fulfilled by the
publishing of a Policy in respect of students of
statutory school age in line with legislation. 
The Policy currently before the Executive takes into
account the legislation and guidance specifically relating
to education transport as issued by the Department of
Education.
 
Alternative Options
Considered:
 

1.        
Do nothing: Failure to adopt a revised policy would result in
the current policy being re-adopted for the coming year.  This
will lead to continued lack of clarity in relation to
interpretation of some clauses and leave the Council open to
potential challenge. 

 

2.        
Refer the draft policy back for further revision:  If
the Executive prefer not to approve the policy as drafted, they may
make recommendations as to any alterations they may
require:  
 

a)       
Members are requested to be mindful of the statutory
requirement to publish the final version of the policy before
19th September 2025 and the timelines for
re-presentation of the policy at Executive for approval. The
Executive might therefore like to grant delegated authority to the
Executive member to approve any minor changes that they
request.  

 

b)       
If the Executive wish to make substantive changes to the
policy, i.e. changes which affect eligibility, a full formal public
consultation would be required to be carried out, as set out in
legislation.  The time scales are such that this could not be
completed in time to publish a revised policy for delivery in
academic year 2026/27.   

 

c)        
Failure to approve the final version in time for publication
by 19th September 2025 will result in the current policy
being re-adopted for the coming academic year with the same impact
as the alternative option of do nothing as set out at paragraph
3.3.1 of the report.