Proposed decision:
The Cabinet Member is asked to agree the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023/24
Further information:
There is a legal requirement for post 16 learners to stay in education, training or work-based learning until they reach 18 years of age, and as young adults there is an expectation they will contribute to the cost of their travel in most circumstances. Whilst there is no statutory duty to provide transport for Post 16 Learners there is a duty to consider applications for assistance with transport and to enable access to education. There are no planned changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement or this commitment for the 2023/24 academic year.
KCC consulted with current and future service users between 25 January and 21 March 2023 on a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023/24 in spite of the offer remaining unchanged, as there is a legal requirement to do so annually. It should be noted that this consultation also included proposals for changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2024/25 and a formalisation of Kent’s 4 – 16 Free School Transport Policy for 2024/25. Analysis of responses to these elements of the consultation are currently underway and a separate paper will be presented to CYPE Cabinet Committee in July to determine those proposals. However, it was necessary to consider the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023 earlier to fulfil our statutory responsibilities for annual review.
KCCs primary method of meeting its obligation in regard to Post 16 Transport will be through the continued offer of the Kent 16+ Travel Saver pass. Where learners can demonstrate that the KCC 16+ Travel Saver pass does not enable access to education, learners can appeal to the Local Authority with a view to accessing alternative assistance.
We also offer a number of Active Travel schemes to allow pupils to make the most of opportunities to walk or cycle to their place of learning, which are especially important this year to help reduce the number of students using the public transport network www.kentconnected.org.
Kent County Council will also aim to improve the independence of learners with a Learning Difficulty Assessment, by providing travel training to students who will then be able to access public transport with the use of the KCC 16+ Travel Saver pass.
The post 16 Transport policy for Kent County Council enables access to education for Kent Learners. To assist Kent’s young adults in accessing their education in schools, colleges and through apprenticeships or work-based training provision.
Kent County Council has provided students with the opportunity to apply for a Kent 16+ Travel Saver pass which is subsidised by the Authority and can be purchased online through Kent County Council’s website. The 16+ Travel Saver pass gives unlimited access to the public bus network and learning providers can choose to further subsidise this charge to their students or trainees if they wish in cases of financial hardship.
With the participation age of 18 years, the 16+ Travel Saver pass will widen the opportunity for Kent’s young adults to access the education provision of their choice at a subsidised cost. This may be at schools, academies, colleges or in the workplace though an apprenticeship or other work-based training provision. Support for accessing education is not prescribed and Kent use the 16+ Travel Saver pass to meet its duty to enable users access to education.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 05/05/2023
Decision due: Not before 5th Jun 2023 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: Christine McInnes
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Craig Chapman, Head of Fair Access Email: craig.chapman@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The decision will be discussed at CYPE Cabinet Committee on 16 May 2023.
Financial implications: The scheme is uncapped and costs will vary depending on take up levels and journeys undertaken by cardholders, and so the overall costs of the scheme can vary year to year. In the financial year 2022-23, the cost of the post 16+ KTS was £2.7m of which £2.5m was funded from the recharge of the pass. The remaining subsidy of £0.3m is met from the revenue budget. The 2023-24 MTFP includes savings from increasing the KTS 16+ pass cost from September 2023 however, following confirmation of the Bus Subsidy Implementation Plan for 2023-24, these increases are expected to be delayed with costs covered by grant funding (as outlined in Key Decision 23/00027).In addition, the Home to school transport revenue budget also subsidises the Post 16 SEN Transport offer. This numbers fluctuate from year to year, but the total subsidy is around £10 million per annum.
Legal implications: Local authorities have a duty to prepare and publish by 31 May each year an annual transport policy statement specifying the arrangements for the provision of transport, or otherwise that the authority considers necessary, to make to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training.
Equalities implications: Post 16 Transport Policy has an overall positive impact for learners with protected characteristics, with little to no negative effects. The document and consultation information can be found via www.kent.gov.uk/schooltransportpolicy.