| SPOTLIGHT |
Education ministers are to review school transport statutory guidance following a campaign by children’s disability charity Contact.
A research report by the charity claimed that 51% of local school transport policies in England included unlawful statements, 48% of parents said school travel arrangements made for disabled children hampered their ability to work and 23% said their child's journey to school was so stressful that it made it harder for them to learn.
The charity said the law requires free transport to school to be provided where a child has a disability or other special need that would prevent them walking to their nearest suitable school.
But it said it received numerous complaints from parents, most commonly over councils wrongly deciding a disabled was ineligible for free school transport, unsuitability of vehicles provided and lack of information about the application and appeal process.
It said the Government should review statutory guidance on school transport and post-16 transport, including vehicle safety and escort training, and make it clear that councils must provide school transport for children because of their special educational needs, disability, or mobility problems.
Contact also called for free school transport to be extended to 16-17-year-olds.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “In light of the findings by Contact, the department will review the statutory guidance for local authorities to ensure it is clear."
Contact’s chief executive Amanda Batten said this move was “a huge win for all of us”.
Mark Smulian
