Minutes

The Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director: Commercial and the Head of Service: Asset and Infrastructure submitted a joint report seeking approval of the council’s post-16 mainstream student transport policy.

The council currently had two policies in place which were reviewed and published every year.  One policy was for students with special and additional needs who required extra support to get to their courses and one for mainstream post-16 students.  The report covered the mainstream attended students.

During the academic year 2021/22, the council was providing transport support for 833 students who lived more than 3 miles from their institution to travel between home and college or 6^th Form during term time.

The council had a statutory duty to facilitate the attendance of people of 6^th form age to education or training, but not to fund it.  Parents could be expected to make a contribution or cover the full cost.  Comparisons regionally confirmed the council’s policy was generous.  Should it wish to continue to financially support Post-16 Transport, this would be in line with the broader council goals of maintaining Connectivity.

The new provision sought to give choice and control to students and families, enabling flexible transport.

North Lincolnshire Council had produced a Grant Offer Letter for the council and post-16 education providers to sign setting out the terms and conditions for the grant.

It was proposed to award a travel grant of £315 per student for those who were eligible; live more than 3 miles from their institution to travel between home and their college or sixth form during term time.

The £315 grant would be paid termly at a rate of £105 per term by the council to the colleges and could be used for any transport option but with a preference for Public Transport.  The colleges would also contribute £35 per student per term and the parent £30 per student per term towards their travel.

A ‘Grant Offer Letter’ would be signed by the council and the colleges to agree the terms and conditions of the grant, which would include regular monitoring meetings between all parties.

Resolved – (a) That the award of a £315 travel grant to all eligible students in accordance with the mainstream policy be approved, and (b) that a Grant Offer Letter be signed by the council and post-16 education providers.

The Director: Learning Skills and Culture submitted a report seeking approval of the council’s post-16 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) student transport policy.

The council currently had two policies in place which were reviewed and published every year.  One policy was for students with special and additional needs who required extra support to get to their courses and one for mainstream post-16 students.  The report covered those students who had special or additional needs.

The council had a statutory duty to facilitate the attendance of people of 6th form age to education or training.  How the council achieved this was set out in the mainstream post-16 transport and SEND post-16 transport policies.  The report updated the SEND policy to ensure it was consistent with the mainstream policy.

The report stated that the support to enable young people with SEND to attend post-16 learning included:

·       independent travel training, so that young people could access transport with their peers and develop skills for independence as adults

·       direct assistance with transport where independent travel was not yet possible

·       an option for a personal transport budget.

The amended post-16 SEND student transport policy was attached as an appendix.

Resolved - That the post-16 SEND student transport policy, attached as an appendix to the report be approved.