CHILDREN EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL OF CHOICE
January 25, 2008 4:45 PM
Nick Harvey says: 'New regulations for school transport from this September are likely to penalise parents' choice of schools in rural areas such as North Devon.
'If a school is outside a catchment area parents have to first secure a place for their child and then appeal to the County Council for help with transport costs. This puts lower income families in rural areas in an impossible position.
'It is all very well the Government saying that parents can select a school of preference, if they are not going to make adequate transport provision in rural areas. The Government has created a level of expectation that Local Authorities cannot deliver on.'
When challenged on this issue Andrew Adonis, Parliamentary Under secretary of State for Schools and Learners recently told Nick Harvey:
'The Courts have held that Local Authorities do not have a duty to provide free transport for pupils whose parents have chosen to send them to a school other than the nearest suitable one, even if it is beyond statutory walking distance.'
Nick Harvey responds: 'For parents in urban areas the new transport criteria are not such a problem, but for low income families in rural areas where schools are widely dispersed it affectively excludes them.'
Further Information:
Due to recent changes in the law which will affect children starting at secondary school in September 2008, if your family is on low income, i.e. your child is entitled to free school meals, or your family is in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, your child will be eligible for free transport to a choice of 3 secondary schools between 2 and 6 miles from your home.
Government policy is that local authorities do not have a duty to provide free transport other than to the nearest school. While Government gives local authorities flexibility to help, understandably they are averse to setting a precedent because of the broader financial implications.
Parents seeking travels cost will have to appeal to the County Transport Manager and a tribunal will then judge if the Council would cover some or all of school bus costs.
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