Barnet Council’s consultation follows updated guidance being published by the government, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter
Parents and carers are being asked for their views on the best ways to support children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (Send) travel to school.
The Department for Education’s revised school transport guidance was published in June 2023 and Barnet Council confirmed it had “aligned” its “proposed changes” with updated guidance.
A key change is encouraging “far greater use of greener travel assistance options” for people thinking about or applying for travel assistance. Another was to make policy “clear, and easy to understand ”.
Sarah Sackman, Labour candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, recently called on central government to “reform” the system as she said the current one relied too heavily on parents.
Options being encouraged under the new guidance are independent travel training, cycling and walking allowances, funding parent travel cards to use on public buses, personal transport allowance and increasing designated pick-up and drop-off points instead of door-to-door service.
The consultations, one for ages five to 16 and one for 19-25, opened in June and will close in September. Parents and carers can send their views either online or request a hardcopy.
For more information:
Visit Compulsory school aged (5-16) Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Travel Assistance Policy consultation | Engage Barnet
Visit 19 – 25 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Travel Assistance Policy consultation | Engage Barnet
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