Families could benefit from a series of proposed improvements to school travel arrangements following our pledge to conduct a wide-ranging review of changes introduced two years ago.
The review was promised after a revised policy was introduced in September 2024, changing eligibility for free travel from being based on a child’s nearest or catchment school to their nearest school.
Families already receiving free transport under the previous arrangements kept that entitlement, with the revised criteria applying to children starting or changing schools after the policy was introduced.
The findings reflect our commitment from the outset to listen to families and assess how the new arrangements are working in practice through analysis of appeals, complaints, operational data and feedback from parents, carers, schools and other stakeholders.
We provide home to school transport for about 11,000 eligible pupils across England's largest county, with many families living in often deeply rural communities.
The service costs more than £52 million each year and supports many children who travel long distances to school, particularly in rural areas.
The review found that the policy is largely working as intended, helping to create a fairer and more consistent approach to transport eligibility while remaining in line with national guidance and on track to deliver planned savings.
However, at the same time, we also recognises that some families have experienced challenges and have identified a number of ways the service could potentially be improved.
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We know that school travel arrangements are incredibly important to families and that the changes introduced in 2024 have affected some households more than others.
“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.
“We have carefully considered feedback from parents and carers, schools and other stakeholders, alongside appeals, complaints and operational data.
“The review shows the policy is meeting its objectives, but it has also highlighted areas where we can make improvements. We are committed to learning from people's experiences and ensuring families have clearer information and a better experience of the service.”
The review recommends a number of improvements, including:
- Addressing practical issues identified on a small number of routes.
- Removing five routes and associated footpaths from the mapping system where there are practical challenges that can affect their suitability for school transport. These are: Fleet Moss Road, Keld to Kirkby Stephen, Buttertubs Pass, The Stang and Kidstone Pass.
- Improving mapping and route information.
- Strengthening the appeal process.
- Providing greater clarity about how routes and distances are assessed.
- Improving information, guidance and communications for families.
In total, the review makes 24 recommendations covering policy wording, communications, appeals procedures, mapping processes and operational arrangements.
The review also recommends retaining a number of existing arrangements, including eligibility being based on a child’s nearest suitable school and available places.
The recommendations will now be considered through the council’s formal decision-making process. Some proposed changes would require public consultation and approval at a full council meeting, while others would be considered by the executive.
Any changes to the policy itself would require public consultation and approval by full council.
No changes have been agreed at this stage and the council’s current home to school travel policy remains in place while the recommendations are considered. The current policy will be used for those families applying for a Reception or Year 7 school place for their child to start in September 2027 and for any in-year applications during the 2026/2027 school year.
Cllr Wilkinson said: “Families should continue to make school preference decisions based on existing arrangements while the decision-making process is completed.
“To support families during the transition period, we will continue to use the appeals process and discretionary powers in exceptional cases. This means support can be considered where specific routes or circumstances cause difficulties, rather than waiting for any future policy changes to take effect.”
If approved, any policy changes would not take effect before September 2027 and would apply to children starting in Reception and Year 7 in September 2028.
The report will be considered by the council’s children and families overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday next week (16 September). It will then be discussed by our executive on Friday next week (18 September).
If agreed by the executive, a six-week public consultation is then due to be launched later this month before feedback and the review’s recommendations are set to be considered at a full council meeting in November.
See more details on the post-implementation review.
The full report of the review’s recommendations can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF here.