Parents criticise school transport policy changes
Parents in Dudley have said a review of home-to-school transport “discriminates against working parents.”
Dudley Council held a consultation last year on whether the council should continue to provide home-to-school transport for children who are not of compulsory school age.
Under the law, the council says it is not required to provide transport to school for children under the age of four and a half or older than sixteen. Dudley Council says a reduction in the service would lead to an increase in the independence of pupils and ensure that travel support is provided for eligible children and young people of compulsory school age, i.e., between 5 and 16 years of age.
It is believed almost 95 per cent of children who currently use the service are on an education, health and care ( EHC ) plan. EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.
The council is currently struggling with the growing number of children requesting EHC plans in Dudley as well as a bleak financial outlook confirmed by the latest council risk report. The council says reducing home-to-school transport would allow them to achieve “efficiency savings and make best use of the available resources.”
