An alternative school transport policy for academic year 2025/26 was agreed at the recent meeting of the East AyrshireCabinet.
The report presented to elected members, set out current arrangements for children and young people who are currently accessing alternative transport and identified that, as of 30 September 2024, 601 children and young people were approved for home to school journeys and 225 contracts were in place with minibus, taxi or wheelchair accessible vehicles at a total daily cost of £22,800. This has led to a projected overspend of £2,414,133 for alternative school transport for 2024/25.
Elected members were asked to consider recommendations designed to protect the sustainability of alternative transportation where it is an essential need, and that addressed the requirement to reduce spend and minimise costs moving forward.
Cabinet agreed all the recommendations, including:
A new Alternative School Transport policy will be introduced for 2025/26
All current arrangements will remain in place for the rest of this academic year
A full audit of current arrangements will be undertaken this April and parents and carers will be advised of any changes in June
A Transport Review Panel (TRP) will be established along with a new application process and contract management system to ensure informed decision making and equity for children and young people.
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People said:
“The new policy agreed by Cabinet is focused on ensuring equity for children and young people with Additional Support Needs while addressing the need to reduce costs and stop the significant overspend that we’re seeing this year. The new application process and assessment will be based on individual need and those who need this service will continue to receive it.
“The Education Service will now work in partnership with colleagues from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance to ensure that the new application and contract management system is in place at the earliest possible date in the next academic year. New applications for the 2025/26 academic session, specifically for P1 and S1, will be evaluated under the new policy.”
