Reading Borough Council is asking parents living in the town for their views on proposed changes to provision of free school transport for children aged under five or over 16 who have statements of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
As a result of revised guidance from the Government, there is no longer a legal duty on local authorities to provide provide free transport for under-5s and over-16s with SEN or an EHC. Councils can also ask for a contribution towards pupil transport costs from parents and carers.
The council is proposing that from September 2017 parents of children in the two age groups would be asked to pay £458 a year towards transport costs. The council says this is 12% of the average annual transport costs for each child.
The council is also proposing changes to the appeals process if families want to challenge a decision about home to school transport and ending the provision of free transport for pupils on the basis of religious denomination.
Click here for full details of the council’s proposals and to have your say.
