Home to School and Post-16 Transport Consultation

Following updated Department for Education guidance, Wakefield Council has reviewed its:

• Home to School Transport Policy (for pre-16 pupils)

• Post-16 Transport Policy Statement

We are proposing changes to both policies for the 2027/2028 academic year and welcome your views.

The proposed changes aim to:

• continue providing support for those who need it most

• encourage greater independence for young people where appropriate

• ensure transport services remain financially sustainable

We welcome your views.

Why are we proposing changes?

Wakefield Council currently provides assisted transport for around:

• 1,200 school-aged children

• 160 post-16 learners

• 18 Early Years pupils

In 2018/19, Home to School Transport cost £2.2 million per year.

Today, that cost has risen to more than £10.5 million. Including approximately £800,000 for post-16 transport.

The increase in costs means we need to review how we deliver transport support.

Proposed changes at a glance

Home to School Transport

We are consulting on:

• transport for Early Years. Support for children with significant SEND attending the Pinderfields Early Years Assessment Centre

• transport arrangements for Alternative Provision. Transport is at the beginning and end of the school day only

Post-16 Transport

We are consulting on:

• Personal Transport Budget (PTB) - first transport offer for eligible post-16 learners

• and introducing a 10% contribution towards post-16 transport support

What are we consulting on?

We are consulting on two proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy.

1. Transport for Early Years pupils with significant SEND

We currently provide discretionary transport for Early Years. Support for children with significant Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). And who attend the Pinderfields Pupil Referral Unit Early Years Assessment Centre.

In 2025/26, this support cost £231,000, with an average annual cost of around £12,800 per child.

We would like your views on whether this support should:

• stop

• continue free of charge

• continue with a nominal charge

2. Transport for pupils attending Alternative Provision

Some pupils who attend an Alternative Provision setting may be transported at different times. This could be any time in the school day, depending on their individual timetable.

Under the proposed policy, transport would be provided at the start and end of the school day only.

Allowing children in the same settings to travel together. And help reduce transport costs.

We would like your views on this proposal.

You can read the proposed policy linked below.

We are consulting on a proposed change to the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement.

1. Personal Transport Budgets (PTBs)

There is no legal requirement to provide free transport for post-16 learners.

We currently provide discretionary transport support. This is for eligible post-16 learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The Post-16 Transport Policy Statement provides information about transport support available to:

• learners aged 16 to 19

• young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan up to the age of 25, where they are continuing a course started before their 19th birthday

We want to ensure transport support remains at the right level. That it promotes independence and is financially sustainable.

We are proposing that a Personal Transport Budget (PTB) becomes the first transport offer for eligible post-16 learners.

A PTB is a payment that helps families make their own travel arrangements.

It can:

• contribute towards the cost of transport

• give families more flexibility to arrange travel

• support travel arrangements that best meet individual needs

• encourage greater independence

The amount offered would depend on the distance between home and the place of education.

Under the proposed policy, PTBs would be subject to a 10% contribution from families. This would be deducted when the amount payable is calculated.

Find some additional info about PTB’s below.

You can read the proposed policy linked below.

How to feedback

Consultation Meetings

Please check back here for our schedule of in-person consultation events.

Online consultation questionnaire

If you are unable to attend any of these dates, you can still share your views online until Monday 21 October 2026.

Additional information about Personal Transport Budgets

Personal Transport Budget payments

PTB payments will be made in instalments. Once term begins, we will make weekly payments directly into your nominated bank account. Payments will usually be made each Wednesday.

Attendance and PTB payments

In line with our current policy, PTB payments may be reduced if your child is not attending school or college, as less transport support is required. We will notify you before any changes are made to your payments.

Using a PTB if you do not drive

A PTB can be used to support a range of travel arrangements, including:

• paying someone else to take your child to school or college

• overing the cost of childcare for siblings while you travel

• Purchasing a bus pass for your child

• Contributing towards other suitable travel arrangements

Flexibility in how a PTB is used

You do not need to provide evidence of how you spend your PTB. The funding is intended to give families flexibility and choice in arranging transport, and monitoring will be kept to a minimum.

Applying for PTB support

Applications for transport assistance must be submitted each academic year. Eligibility and support arrangements will be reviewed as part of the application process.

Requests for assisted transport

All transport applications will continue to be considered by the Assisted Transport Panel.

In exceptional circumstances, the panel may decide that assisted transport is more appropriate than a PTB.

If you disagree with a transport decision, you can use our Two Stage Appeal process.