Purpose :
For Decision
Committee: EXECUTIVE
Date: 27 AUGUST 2002
Title: TRANSPORT TO AND FROM SCHOOL
FOR CHILDREN IN PUBLIC CARE - (AMENDMENT TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOME TO SCHOOL AND
SPECIALLY PROVIDED TRANSPORT)
PORTFOLIO
HOLDER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING
All Councils have, through legislation, a
responsibility to meet their Corporate Parenting Responsibilities in relation
to Children in Public Care.
This
proposal sets out to support Children in Public Care, to maintain their school
placement and exercise choice over the school they would wish to attend. The
Directorates of Education & Community Development and Social Services &
Housing will work in partnership by sharing the costs of transport to school
where children fall outside the normal transport policy.
The Council
has a corporate responsibility to ensure children who are in their care gain
maximum opportunity from education in order to improve their life chances. The DfES have agreed targets outlined in the
Quality Protects Management Action Plan (Social Services) and in the Education
Development Plan (LEA).
Children in
Public Care are some of the most vulnerable children in society. Research has shown that they perform poorly
in comparison with peers of similar ability, who are not in the care system. Stability of Educational placement is a key
factor in improving their standards of attainment.
Children in
the public care system frequently change schools through no fault of their own,
(although the majority attend their local school). This may be due to family or foster care breakdown. This may then lead to a change of school and
discontinuity of education. It also
means that friends and relationships may also be lost and they have to learn
new systems and routines as well as get to know new children and teachers.
To further
the interests of this group of children it is suggested that the Directorates
of Education and Community Development, and Social Services and Housing, share
the cost of Home to School Transport (Bus Pass only costs) on a 50:50 basis in
order to reduce the need for a transfer of school, unless this is considered
appropriate. Also, this will enable
children to make a positive choice of school where, in other circumstances, the
cost of transport would be borne by their parents, and the travel arrangements
do not fall within the existing transport policy.
This
arrangement does not apply to transport costs incurred as a consequence of
living within two miles of a Primary School and three miles of a Middle or High
School. If the distance is under two or
three miles respectively, the normal Travel Arrangements Policy applies.
Reasons that
the child in public care may need bus pass assistance include:
_ The child does not meet the existing
criteria for a bus pass through the Education Directorate=s Transport Policy.
_ The current foster placement the
child is in requires that they need assisted travel through provision of a bus
pass to continue in school.
_ The child has had to change school
in order to meet their identified needs, which are specified in their Care
Plan, LAC Review or Personal Education Plan.
Suggested
practice for implementing the proposal would be that the named Social Worker
for the child, with their Team Manager=s approval,
will contact the Education Co-ordinator for Looked After Children with the
relevant details and documentation, who in turn will liaise with the Senior
Administrative Officer (Admissions and Transport) to arrange the Bus Pass.
The
Education Directorate will invoice the appropriate Social Work Team for 50% of
the cost of the Bus Pass from the fostering budget.
In most
cases, children and young people attend their local priority schools and their
transport needs fall within the existing Transport Policy.
Implementation of this proposal will lead to
some shared costs between the Directorates.
As this will be on an agreed planned basis, rather than as a reactive
strategy, it will mean that children=s educational needs will be given priority and
this will reduce confusion as to which directorate is responsible for funding
the arrangements.
Data for the forthcoming academic year, 2002/3
indicates there are 12 children who would be eligible under these arrangements
from in total, a >looked after= population of
approximately 175. This would incur
additional costs, at today=s prices, of ,4,560.
Whilst the circumstances of children in public
care can change fairly rapidly, there is no reason to assume that the numbers
involved through this proposal could exceed 25 in any one year, based on
current information.
1. No change
2. Adopt the recommendation below.
To further
the interests of this group of children it is suggested that the Directorates
of Education and Community Development, and Social Services and Housing, share
the cost of Home to School Transport (Bus Pass only costs) on a 50:50 basis in
order to reduce the need for a transfer of school, unless this is considered
appropriate.
Education
and Community Development Select Committee 12 August 2002.
|
A KAYE Strategic Director Education and Community Development |
J WAREHAM Portfolio Holder Education and Lifelong Learning |