CHANGES are being proposed to the Home to School Transport Policy to make it 'clearer an easier to understand'.

Home to school travel for eligible children is a statutory service that Buckinghamshire Council must deliver, and the Council’s school transport policies provide the framework for the services provided.

Buckinghamshire Council is reviewing changes to its policy and any changes made will apply for the 2024 to 2025 academic year onwards and will apply to both new and existing customers.

The Home to School Transport Policy sets out the council's approach to providing transport to schools/educational settings for students up to 19-year's-old (up to 25 years for students with special educational needs and disabilities).

The Post-16 Transport Policy Statement sets out transport arrangements for students aged 16 and over.

Buckinghamshire Council said where a walking route previously assessed as unsafe is made safe, the transport eligibility for all pupils who could be using the walking route will be reviewed.

It comes as some pupils are eligible for home to school travel assistance because the walking route to their nearest suitable school is within the statutory walking limits, but the walking route is unsafe.

The council said it encourages "safe, sustainable ways of getting to school aiming to reduce car/bus journeys by working within our budget to make walking routes to school safe."

The changes to the transport policy means there will be clarification provided on travel assistance eligibility for children aged 0-4 years, that the nearest suitable school used for the transport eligibility assessment may not be the same as the catchment school or nearest school for admissions purposes, on the criteria for home to school transport for pupils with SEND.

There will also be better clarification to parents on the school transport application and review process, more information on Personal Transport Budgets, the educational placement for pupils/students with an EHCP, medical needs while onboard transport and transport for pupils/students with SEND transferring to a different school/setting.

Bucks Council said: "We want to hear your views on these updates and whether they have made our policies easier to understand.

"We are not proposing any further substantial changes to the Home to School Transport Policy or the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2024 to 2025."

Parents have been asked to have their say on the plans by midnight on Monday 29 January 2024.

You can either email H2STpolicyconsultation@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to Home to school transport consultation 2023, Client Transport, Buckinghamshire Council, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UA

The decision will be made by Leader of Buckinghamshire Council Martin Tett in May 2024.

Once the decision has been made, the council will publish the new Home to School Transport Policy and Post-16 Transport Policy Statement.