Support has been shown from the public for proposed changes to how we provide home to school travel for pupils across the county.
Councillors are due to consider the proposals next week following a review of the policy's first year in operation.
We pledged to conduct a post-implementation review to analyse a full year of data after the revised policy was introduced in September 2024, which changed the main eligibility for free home to school travel so that it applies only to a child’s nearest school with available places.
The current policy was launched to ensure the service is financially sustainable, fair to all families and in line with government guidance.
A total of 588 people took part in a six-week consultation on seven of the proposed changes and the results are now set to be discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday next week (18 November).
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. When the policy changed, we promised to review how it was working in practice and to listen to the experiences of families.
“That is exactly what we have done, and I am pleased to see the positive responses from people who took part in the consultation. Out of the 588 people who responded, more than 450 were parents and carers.
“Their feedback is extremely important, and it has helped to shape the recommendations that will now be considered at the full council meeting. If agreed, the proposed recommendations will not be introduced until September next year, but proposals include looking at discretions for affected families during the intervening period.”
The consultation, which ran from September 21 to Wednesday last week (November 4), has shown strong support across proposed recommendations included in the survey.
A total of 85 per cent of participants backed updates to the mapping data while nearly 80 per cent of people have supported clearer guidance on school entrance points and eligibility.
More than 86 per cent of people agreed discretionary measures should be considered where two schools share the same drop-off point for council-run transport.
Proposed changes to clarify the eligibility for pupils for home to school transport when routes which are further than walking distance are deemed to be unsafe received nearly 83 per cent backing.
The consultation also focused on five routes in some of North Yorkshire's most remote areas which the review recommended should be removed from the mapping system because they can be affected by severe weather and challenging driving conditions.
The routes are Fleet Moss Road, Keld to Kirkby Stephen, Buttertubs Pass, The Stang and Kidstone Pass. The proposal to remove the routes was backed by almost 84 per cent of respondents.
Plans to make changes to how distances between a child’s home and school are measured received support from nearly 78 per cent of people who took part in the consultation, and 60 per cent also agreed that proposed revisions to the policy made it clearer and easier to understand.
Proposals to remove an additional route, Halton Gill to Settle, which was highlighted by the public will be considered at the full council meeting. Councillors will also discuss how the proposed changes will be introduced and the impact on any families who would be affected by changes to the current policy.
The review’s remaining 17 recommendations were discussed by the council’s executive at a meeting on September 18. A total of 10 recommendations were approved by councillors.
The other seven were noted by the executive as they related to measures already in place in the current policy, such as continuing to base eligibility for home to school travel on a child’s nearest suitable school with available places instead of using a catchment school.
The council provides home to school transport for about 11,000 eligible pupils across England's largest county, with many families living in often deeply rural communities.
Latest figures have shown that the service now costs more than £54 million each year and supports many children who travel long distances to school, particularly in rural areas.
Any approved policy changes will not take effect before September 2027 and will apply to children starting in Reception and Year 7 in September 2028.
Parents and carers applying this academic year for a school place for their child to start in Reception in September 2027 are reminded that until any decisions are made, the current policy remains in place. Families should continue to make school preference decisions based on the existing policy.
The report to the full council meeting can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF here.
See information about the post-implementation review of the home to school travel policy.