Education Committee, 13 Sep 2006

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Official Report 268KB pdf

---

School Transport

We have a system of reviewing on an annual basis the implementation of the Scottish Executive's guidance on the provision of transport to and from school. We took evidence from the Minister for Education and Young People on 26 October 2005. We have received an update from the minister regarding school transport, which is attached to the letter concerning school closures. The minister's response is useful, but we are still awaiting the final revisions from COSLA. The letter mentions letting a contract for reviewing the guidance to local authorities.

It might be better if we note the letter now and return to the matter when we have more information from COSLA on its intended revisions to the guidance that is given to local authorities on school transport, which will hopefully be around the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Are members content with that suggestion?

The minister's letter does not mention the use of taxis to transport pupils to school. I have received representations from schools indicating that an inordinate amount of their budgets are being eaten up by paying for taxi services. Could we, perhaps, include a look at that practice when we are considering school transport? It would be useful if we could consider whether there are alternatives to employing taxi companies to shuttle pupils backwards and forwards to schools, given the cost implications of so doing.

Obviously, each local authority has a responsibility to ensure value for money in terms of how they tender for things. The taxi services that you are talking about are usually used to transport one or two children from an isolated community. In some places, that is the only way to do it.

I understand that local authorities have to operate under Executive guidance in this area and that, to an extent, their hands are tied. That is my understanding, but I am trying to find out some more information on the issue. I just wanted to flag the issue up.

You should bring to the committee any further information that you come up with and we will decide whether there is anything that we need to do. I know that, in Fife, the service is arranged as part of the normal school contract tendering process.

The letter addresses some issues that are of importance to my area. However, there is a particular issue about the cost and consistency of school transport. Clearly, the cost of the service—or, indeed, whether it is free to use—depends on where you are in Scotland. The criteria that are used to determine whether it is free differ from area to area. In some areas, safety criteria are used; in others, mileage criteria are used. Do we know whether the COSLA guidance will address those issues as well?

We do not know, but I would assume that it would include some indication about that. Obviously, there is no statutory mileage limit for school transport. Most authorities use 2 miles or 3 miles as the limit. However, there should be exceptions for situations in which there is no safe alternative route.

The lack of clarity in this area is confusing for some parents and exasperating for us.

I would assume and hope that the COSLA guidance would cover some of those issues, but we will see what it says when it comes out.