Home to School Transport: Public Consultation on Proposed Policy Changes
Westmorland and Furness Council are seeking residents’ and stakeholders’ views on proposed policy changes relating to home to school transport eligibility and support.
As the Council faces difficult financial challenges due to rising costs and growing demand for services, all Council budgets are under increasing pressure.
We are now consulting on some key areas of provision that are currently provided on a discretionary basis and are above statutory requirements as set out in the Department for Education’s “Travel to school for children of compulsory school age”.
Any agreed changes to policy would apply to new admissions and/or transport applications received on or after 19 September 2026 and would affect new entrants to schools (Reception and Year 7) with effect from September 2027.
Proposed changes to transport support, including the introduction of charging young people eligible for support with SEND transport would apply to those commencing their Post 16 education in Year 12 from 1 September 2027.
You can find all the documents and consultation survey here:Home to School Transport: policy changes consultation | Westmorland and Furness Council
Including:
- Children and Young People’s Home to School Travel Assistance policy – for children from Reception to Year 11 for the 2027/28 academic year onwards
- Post 16 Transport Policy Statement – consultation draft for the 2027/28 academic year
- Proposed Home to School Transport Policy Changes
Have your say
- Please read the documents and respond to our questionnaire from now until Tuesday 21st April 2026 (midnight).Home to School Transport: policy changes consultation | Westmorland and Furness Council
- You can attend one of our face-to-face drop-in sessions which you can find here on our website
- You can book onto one of our on-line sessions and meet with one of the team via MS Teams for a 15-minute chat.
- Please email: school.transport@westmorlandandfurness.co.uk with your preferred date and time slot (every 15 minutes from 00; 15; 30; 45). We will confirm availability and send you a calendar link to the meeting.
A report summarising the feedback received and how this has informed the final policy will be published during the summer of 2026.
Councillor Janet Battye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education, said:
“Our council, like many others, is operating in a challenging financial climate, as recently noted with our budget reductions from government funding. We must strike the right balance to meet the needs of our statutory services while reviewing discretionary elements.
Any pupil currently receiving home‑to‑school transport under the existing eligibility criteria will continue to do so.
This consultation is an opportunity for parents, carers, pupils, schools, and partners to have their say. It is important that we hear your views, and we encourage as many people as possible to respond.”
Mil Vasic, Director of Children’s Services, said:
“We want to reassure parents and carers that no‑one will lose what they currently receive in terms of home‑to‑school transport. The proposals would apply only to new Reception, Year 7 intakes and pupils eligible for SEND Post 16 transport from 2027. However, with rising transport costs, we have a duty to consider how we can deliver the service more sustainably in the future. These proposals aim to support a fair and economical approach to providing free travel to a child’s nearest school. This review does not affect where your child goes to school—that remains your preference—but it does consider their eligibility for funded transport.”
How to Take Part:
The consultation runs until 21 April and includes an online survey Home to School Transport: policy changes consultation | Westmorland and Furness Council
- Parents and carers wishing to share their views on the Home to School Travel Policy are encouraged to complete the survey.
- Drop-in sessions at Libraries will be on the website, and online sessions can be made available as mentioned on our website.
- For further information, or to find out where to get a paper copy, please email: school.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
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