Decision details

To consider whether to make any changes to Surrey’s Home to School Transport Policy for September 2015

That with effect from September 2015, and subject to the distance thresholds appropriate to the age of the child being met, eligibility to free home to school transport for Surrey children to attend their nearest geographical Surrey school (measured by the shortest walking route) be extended, if their nearest school is out of County and the distance or safety of route to that school would mean that transport would still need to be provided.

Reasons for Decisions:

• It would enable parents who would otherwise receive transport to their nearest out of County school, to send their children to their nearest Surrey school and still receive transport, thus potentially increasing their ‘choice’ of schools
• It would ensure that the cost of transport would not be a barrier for children to attend their nearest Surrey school
• It is a policy change that could be applied consistently across the County
• It would demonstrate support to Surrey schools by offering families an incentive to apply for their nearest Surrey school, even if they have an out of County school which is nearer
• It would help to support the financial viability of undersubscribed Surrey schools and in turn may reduce the likelihood of County Council funding being needed to support the recovery of an undersubscribed school
• In some cases it may cost less to transport a child to a Surrey school than to an out of County school
• It would mean that families living in Dormansland and Lingfield would not have their transport to Oxted withdrawn if their nearest school is outside of Surrey
• It would only apply if a parent applied for and was offered a place at the child’s nearest geographical Surrey school
• It was supported by Children and Education Select Committee

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children and Education Select Committee]

Member Motion referred by Council

Mr Stephen Cooksey addressed the Cabinet on his motion, relating to the Home to School Transport policy, which was referred from the meeting of the Council on 10 December 2013.

The response to the motion was considered as part of the discussion and is attached as Appendix 4.