Home to School Transport Consultation 2023

Overview

We would like to know your views on changes we are proposing to our Home to School Transport service. These changes are required to meet increased demand and operating costs, whilst also exploring opportunities to give greater flexibility for parents, support our young people’s independence and help to promote sustainable travel.

Your views are important to us as they will help us to inform proposals. We recognise circumstances for each child, young person and family are often different, therefore we want to know how each of our proposals may affect you. We will also be seeking views from schools and colleges who may also be affected.

This is part of a larger review of transport policies, including Post-16. A consultation of the Post-16 policy will take place later this year, following a full review of bus services.

The changes we are proposing will not come into effect until September 2024.

Key proposals

It is important that the views of parents, carers, and children and young people who may be affected by the proposals are carefully considered to ensure that the service continues to meet the needs of its users. Feedback is also sought from West Northamptonshire residents and other interested stakeholders.

The consultation focuses on the following key areas of Home to School Transport, you can choose to comment on some or all. The key areas of this consultation are:

1. Proposed spare seat scheme
2. Removal of entitlement to linked schools
3. Provision of transport for rising 8’s
4. Removal of transport for children under 5 for mainstream pupils only
5. Removal of travel assistance for year 11 pupils who move home during the academic year
6. Review of suitable walking route criteria
7. Increase the cost of non-entitled bus pass

There is also an opportunity to provide general comments on the draft Policy.

Related documents

Before you respond to this consultation, please have a look at the following documents and information:

• Supporting information (you may wish to have this open when completing the consultation)
• Draft Home to School Education Transport Policy (September 2024 - July 2025)
• Draft Spare Seat Scheme
• Draft Walking Route Assessment Criteria
• Frequently Asked Questions - updated 28 April 2023

Events to find out more

We are running drop in consultation events for people to attend to get more information on our proposals and to have their say. You only need to attend one event. There is no booking system. People can drop at any time during the event.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

• Attend one of the drop-in sessions, details above
• Complete the online survey using the link at the end of this page
• Email us at: schooltransportpolicy@westnorthants.gov.uk
• Write to us at:

• Home to School Transport Consultation 2023
• West Northamptonshire Council
• The Guildhall 
• St Giles' Square
• Northampton
• NN1 1DE

If you have any queries, comments or would like a copy of the questionnaire in another format (including easy read or large print) you can contact us by using the contact details provided above, or by telephone on 01604 364403.

This consultation closes on midnight Tuesday 30 May 2023. 

What happens next?

Your feedback will be part of a report with other people’s feedback, you will not be personally identified.

All responses will be considered and will help to shape decisions by the council on the proposed changes to Home to School Transport and how transport is delivered.

The findings of the consultation will be published and presented to Cabinet later in 2023.

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