Decision

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children's Services seeking approval of the SEND Transport Framework for the provision of all eligible home to school transport requirements from 1st September 2026 to 30th August 2034.

The report author presented the report and responded to questions and comments from Cabinet Members.

The Senior Officer advised that local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free home to school transport for eligible children of compulsory school age with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) where their needs or distance from school make transport necessary. The current home to school transport arrangements were delivered through a Dynamic Purchasing System established in August 2020, which was due to expire on 30th August 2026.

Cabinet was informed that a procurement exercise had been undertaken to identify the most appropriate route for securing future transport provision. Children's Services, working in partnership with STAR Procurement, had reviewed and redesigned the existing arrangements and developed a SEND Transport Framework on which Rochdale Borough Council was a named authority. The proposed framework would support the continuation of the Council's statutory transport responsibilities and provide an effective and efficient solution for the future delivery of SEND transport services.

Resolved that the use of the SEND Transport Framework for all eligible home to school transport requirements from 1st September 2026 – 30th August 2034 be agreed.

Reason for decision:

Local Authorities have a legal duty to provide free home to school transport for eligible children of compulsory school age (5-16) who have SEND, whether their needs or distance they live from school make it necessary. The recommendations set out in this report had been reviewed and supported by Children’s Senior Leadership Team, STAR procurement and their Legal team.

Alternatives considered and rejected:

The Council had a statutory duty to provide services to young people therefore to not have a home to school offer would be a failure to meet the statutory requirement. Therefore, not doing anything or not having a process to supply home to school transport is not an option.