Students with special needs or disabilities are to be encouraged to travel to schools independently as Hackney Council attempts to cut costs.
A consultation on the new Home to School travel policy has been launched by the already cash strapped council following a £1m overspend on the budget for school transport for SEND pupils following an 18pc increase in demand.
The council is now asking their residents for feedback on the proposal through an online survey.
Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley said in a press release: “Every child is entitled to an education and no child should be prevented from accessing education because they cannot get to school.
“We want all our children and young people to have access to the right support at the right time and to be able to travel easily to a great, inclusive, local school which meets their specific needs.”
The proposed policy seeks to promote independence among SEND pupils aged 16 and above where possible, and is part of efforts to strike a balance between providing quality, inclusive support for Hackney’s youth while ensuring efficient use of public resources.
The initiative also aims to foster essential life skills, boost self-esteem, and expand opportunities for social and community engagement.
Key components of the proposals include the development of independent travel training and propose more pick up points rather than door to door collections and the use of passenger assistants where necessary.
The proposals will not change or remove travel assistance in the discretionary areas previously supported by the Council.
Secondary school students entitled to home-to-school travel assistance will also be offered voluntary independent travel training tailored to their needs.
The new policy also aims to address the growing demand for support services, particularly among those with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). This aligns with Hackney’s SEND Strategy for 2022-2025 and Department for Education guidance.
However, those with significant needs, or mobility issues can still access organised transport services such as school buses and taxis.
The consultation, open until April 26, seeks input from residents and stakeholders impacted by the policy. Face-to-face and online sessions will be held to gather feedback, and their findings used to contribute to the final policy to be approved by the Cabinet later this year. Interested parties can participate in the consultation via the Council’s dedicated webpage.
Woodley said: “We want our home-to-school travel policy to be clear and effective, promoting sustainable and independent forms of travel. We hope this will allow our young people to become more confident, and independent and learn life skills that can support their long-term wellbeing and allow them access to more opportunities. We will continue to provide tailored support to those families that need it.”
