Agenda Item 5 Committee: Lead Member for Children & Families

Date: 15 March 2011

Title of Report: The Post 16 Transport Statement

By: Director of Children’s Services

Purpose of Report: To seek the Lead Member’s approval to undertake the required consultation on the draft 2011 Transport Statement for post 16 students

Recommendation: The Lead Member is recommended to agree that a consultation is held on the draft Transport Statement in Annex 1 as per the consultation process in Annex 2

1. Financial Appraisal 1.1 County Council provides discretionary transport to school/college support for students aged 16 – 19 through a number of schemes which have been funded from three sources. These have been from an annual grant from the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA), the home to school transport budget and a smaller Children’s Services Department budget for grants towards the cost of transport.

1.2 The YPLA grant was for transport projects in partnership with Further Education providers. In 2010 the East Sussex grant was £124,000 for the 2010/11 academic year. Projects undertaken include subsidised bus and rail tickets for all 16-19 students regardless of the family’s income, a shuttle-bus service to Plumpton FE College and grants to Sussex Downs College and Sussex Coast College to provide independent travel training for students with additional travel needs. In December 2010, the government announced that the annual YPLA grant paid to local authorities would cease from September 2011. 1.3 The Home to School Transport budget provides specialist transport for students needing support due to their special educational needs or disabilities, and also pays for bus and rail season tickets for low income students who live more than 3 miles from their school or college. 1.4 A separate budget, held in the Admissions and Transport Team of £66,400 per year, funds termly grants to students from low income families who live over 3 miles from their school or college, where bus travel is impractical. The level of grant given varies according to the distance travelled to the nearest appropriate provision. Section 5 of Annex 1 refers.

2. Supporting information 2.1 Local authorities have a duty to prepare and publish an annual Transport Policy Statement specifying the arrangements for the provision of transport or otherwise that the authority considers it necessary to make to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training. This power to provide transport or financial support must be exercised reasonably and lawfully. From 2011 the Transport Policy

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Statement must also cover young people with learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD) aged 19-24. This Transport Statement must be published on the authority’s website by 31st May each year. It is a requirement to consult on the annual Transport Statement with the list of stakeholders listed in Annex 3. 2.2 The removal of the Transport Partnership Grant by the government means that East Sussex County Council is proposing to no longer subsidise public transport as a universal benefit for all young people aged 16-19 as in the past. Although the County Council proposes that support will continue to be provided to students from low income families and those with LDD as per the draft statement in Annex 1. 2.3 The proposed timetable for the consultation and list of consultees is included in Annex 2. 3. Conclusion and Reason for Recommendations 3.1 The County Council has a legal duty to consult on the annual Transport Statement. The proposed 2011 statement does not contain the previous subsidy for universal public transport in light of the removal of the government grant. 3.2 The Lead Member is therefore recommended to agree to the consultation on the proposed Transport Statement as per Annex 1 in line with the timetable and processes in Annex 2.

MATT DUNKLEY Director of Children’s Services

Contact Officer: Sheila Locke, Head of Admissions and Transport Tel: 01273 335771 Local Members: All Background Documents:

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Annex 1

Policy statement for learners aged 16 – 18 in further education, continuing learners aged 19 and over and young people aged 19 – 24 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

1 Summary of policy statement and its main objective The providers of post 16 education in East Sussex believe in the principle that no student aged 16 to 19 should be deprived of the opportunity to continue their learning because of the lack of transport or the finance to enable them to use transport. The providers have, therefore, developed policies which ensure there is provision for students in greatest

financial need by contributing towards the cost of transport to enable them to travel between home and an approved course.

2 Types of travel assistance available

Seats on coaches serving schools with sixth forms Students attending schools with sixth forms where hired vehicles are available can purchase a seat by applying to the Passenger Transport team in Transport and Environment Department. The cost of a seat at the time of writing was £100 per term (based on a six term year). However, this is likely to rise in September 2011. Further details will be available during the summer. The charge will be waived for students from low income families meeting the eligibility criteria (see section 4)

Freedom tickets Students from low income families may be able to get a Freedom ticket if they travel by bus to their course. Freedom tickets allow unlimited travel on most bus routes in the county and are free of charge to those meeting the eligibility criteria (see section 4)

The Transport and Environment department at County Hall can provide advice about available public services. Please call them on 0345 60 80 193 or visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Travel grants Students from low income families, unable to use the bus network, may qualify for a grant towards their travel costs. Please see the eligibility criteria in section 4 for more information.

Link transport Some students (those living in the most rural locations) may be provided with assistance to get to their nearest bus pick up point or railway station. Contact the Admissions and Transport Team within the Children’s Services Department at County Hall for more details.

College provision Some colleges provide their own transport. Details of this can be obtained direct from the colleges and contact details can be found in section 10.

Subsidised rail and bus tickets

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Train and bus companies may offer concessions for students but it will be necessary to contact the operator direct on an individual basis.

There are no global subsidies from the County Council. In previous years, subsidised rail and bus fares have been paid for by a central government grant. This grant has now been withdrawn and it is therefore no longer possible to provide subsidised fares for students.

Transport arrangements for students who reach the age of 19 whilst continuing on a 3 course. Where students receive support it is usually provided up until age of 19 (subject to a normal maximum of two years) but will continue until students complete their course.

4 Eligibility for support Students from families in receipt of: • Income Support • Income‐based Job Seekers Allowance • Child Tax Credit based on income of up to £16,190 • Employment and Support Allowance • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

are entitled to help with transport from the County Council, if the distance between home and the nearest appropriate provision is over three miles. Help is provided in one of the following ways:

¾ a free seat on a vehicle hired by the County Council (available only to students attending sixth forms at East Sussex maintained secondary schools) ¾ a season ticket on certain public bus services ¾ an annual grant based on distance between home and college. Please note that grants will not increase for 2011/12 and will remain at the same level as in 2010/11. They are payable in three instalments:

3 ‐ 5 miles £156 5 ‐ 7 miles £312

7 ‐ 10 miles £468 over 10 miles £624

for students attending colleges/sixth forms in Brighton and Hove, the grant will be restricted to the cost of weekly bus tickets valid on Brighton and Hove buses.

To apply for assistance with transport students/parents should ask for an application form (PS1) which is available from colleges or the Admissions and Transport team at Children’s Services Department, PO Box 4, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, , East Sussex, BN7 1SG.

Please note that students doing Apprenticeships should have reasonable expenses met in full by their learning provider.

If students are refused assistance by the County Council there is an appeals process. The 40

first stage is to write to the Head of Admissions and Transport setting out why it is felt the decision is wrong. The appeal will be considered by an officer not involved in the original decision. If the student remains dissatisfied they can ask for their case to be considered by the Transport and Student Support Panel. This Panel comprises three elected County Councillors. There is no further right of appeal once the Panel has made its decision.

Transport assistance for students up to age 24 with learning difficulties and/or 5 disabilities Students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities may receive additional help with transport if they are unable to access public transport services to their designated college. This will normally be provided by means of a vehicle hired by the County Council to transport the student between home and college, where possible with other students. We do not provide assistance for pre course visits or work placements.

Each case will be considered on its own merits. Advice from the Connexions Advisors

(Special Needs), or other partners where necessary, regarding career outcomes will be taken into consideration when determining eligibility for travel support. However, the final decision will rest with the County Council. Help is provided in response to assessed need, and is not means tested. Some colleges also provide additional transport help for students with special needs. This provision will be made up until age 24 or to the end of the student’s course, whichever is sooner.

6 Training for independent travel Limited independence training is provided at Sussex Downs College (Lewes and Eastbourne) and Sussex Coast College to develop student’s ability to use public services

rather than being dependent on bespoke transport. The Council’s Independent Travel and Mobility Officer can also offer assistance 7 When should I start to apply for transport support? Application forms will be available from June to enable students to apply for assistance with transport. Students should ask about help with transport as soon as they know what course they intend to undertake, and need not wait for a formal acceptance before applying.

8 What if I need to travel to a course that is outside of East Sussex? In some cases the nearest provision is outside East Sussex. Students attending colleges out of the county may be entitled to assistance depending on whether it is the nearest

provision and the course being followed. The policies set out in sections 5 and 6 will therefore apply . 9 What help is available if my college is beyond daily travelling? East Sussex students should be able to attend a college which is within daily travel distance. offers limited boarding facilities for students. The general expectation is that students living within 12 miles will not be given boarding provision

unless there are extenuating circumstances. Account is also taken of access to the college by public transport.

10 Contact information

Organisation Telephone email address web address number (www) Post 16 01273 [email protected] eastsussex.gov.uk 41

support 481240 (ESCC) Bexhill 01424 [email protected] bexhillcollege.ac.uk College 215245 Plumpton 01273 [email protected] plumpton.ac.uk College 890454 Sussex Coast 01424 College, [email protected] sussexcoast.ac.uk 442222 Hastings Sussex sussexdowns.ac.uk Downs 01323 /park [email protected] College 637111 (Park) Sussex sussexdowns.ac.uk Downs 01323 /eastbourne [email protected] College 637637 (EvOC) Sussex sussexdowns.ac.uk Downs 01273 /lewes [email protected] College 483188 (Lewes)

Try out connexions360.org.uk This site is designed specifically for young people giving information and advice on travel, money, education and health issues.

11 Planning for the 2012/13 Post-16 Transport Policy The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act (ASCL) Act 2009 requires local authorities to consult young people of sixth form age and their parents as well as other stakeholders who are already consulted on the Post 16 Transport Policy statement. The

provision made for 2011/12 may not be the same in 2012/13. Young people, their parents and carers as well as other stakeholders will be consulted on the County Council’s proposals for post-16 transport provision in 2012/13 during the 2011/12 academic year.

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Annex 2

Consultation Timetable and Process

Timetable:

Lead Member – permission to consult 15th March 2011 Consultation begins 18th March 2011 Consultation ends 15th April 2011 Lead Member approval 10 May 2011 Transport Statement published 31st May 2011

The Draft Transport Statement will be placed on the East Sussex County Council Website for consultation

List of specific consultees

Brighton and Hove Local Authority West Sussex Local Authority Kent Local Authority East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care Department East Sussex County Council Transport and Environment Department Governing Bodies of all East Sussex secondary schools and secondary special schools Pupils and parents of children attending secondary schools and secondary special schools Plumpton College and Students Union and Students Union Sussex Downs College and Students Union Sussex Coast College and Students Union Sussex University and Students Union Brighton University and Students Union University College, Hastings and Students Union St John’s College, Brighton Mount Camphill Community, Wadhurst Independent Schools in East Sussex: ; ; ; ; ; School; Newlands School; St Bede’s School; St Leonards-Mayfield School East Sussex 11-19 Partnership Board East Sussex Youth Cabinet East Sussex Parent Partnership – Parentlink Connexions Specialist Advisers

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Annex 3

Consultation Requirements

Consulting Key Partners on the Transport Policy Statement The Transport Policy Statement is the responsibility of the local authority, however the local authority should try and achieve a consensus with other partners and stakeholders about its content and delivery

The local authority has a duty to consult with the following stakeholders in developing the statement to ensure it provides a full picture of the available transport and support. • Any other local authorities it considers appropriate; • Other departments within the local authority, for example social services, who may also procure for, or own, their own transport. • The governing bodies of schools and further education institutions; • Passenger Transport Executives and the Integrated Transport Authorities they are responsible to; • Other bodies including: learning providers; representatives of 14-19 consortia; federations; HEIs; transport companies and authorities operating in the locality; public sector bodies; community groups; voluntary organisations and groups/organisations with an interest in disability issues including Independent Specialist Providers should also be consulted where appropriate. • Persons of sixth form age and their parents.

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