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Home to School Transport Policy and Post-16 Transport Policy Statement

Update: November 2023

The findings from this consultation were discussed by Members of the Children’s, Young People and Education (CYPE) Cabinet Committee on 18 July 2023 and at Scrutiny Committee on 13 September 2023.

Following these meeting, the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills took the decision to adopt the Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16 and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2024/25.

These policies will come into effect for the 2024-25 academic year and will be available on Kent.gov.

Update: July 2023

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Children’s, Young People and Education (CYPE) Cabinet Committee on 18 July 2023.

Cabinet Committee Members are being asked to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills on the adoption of both the Home to School Transport Policy and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2024/25. More information is available in the Cabinet Committee reports.

The Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023/24 was discussed at the CYPE Cabinet Committee on 16 May. Members endorsed the proposed decision to agree the proposed Policy Statement for 2023/24. Following this the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills has taken the decision to adopt the Policy Statement for 2023/24.

We would like to get your views on our:

  • Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16, to come into effect from the 2024-25 academic year, and

  • Post 16 Transport Policy Statements for 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years.

We would also like to take this opportunity to gather feedback on our Home to School and Post-16 Transport Retendering Procedure for pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and/or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which can be found in annex 7 of the draft Transport Policy.

Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16

The consultation document provides an overview of the draft Policy, including details of any changes to provision. In summary, the Policy:

  • brings together existing guidance and provides information on how procedures work so that we are being as transparent as possible
  • aims to reduce the administrative burden that parents may face when securing transport for their children
  • reinforces the support that we provide to children in our care
  • incorporates how we will fulfil our legal duties to identify pupils aged between 4 to 16 who are entitled to free school transport and provide them with suitable arrangements to get to school
  • explains how and where we can take a family’s personal circumstances into account and how decisions for additional support will be considered
  • highlights alternatives to placing entitled children in KCC provided vehicles
  • explains the appeals process for when applicants disagree with their child’s assessment.

The consultation document and full draft Home to School Transport Policy are available from the Consultation documents section on this page.

Post 16 Transport Policy Statement

No changes are being proposed for the 2023-24 Statement. However, the Department for Education requires us to consult each year, regardless of any changes, to ensure the Statement provides a full picture of the available transport and support.

We are also consulting on the 2024-25 Statement, which includes support for 19+ learners with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as it proposes a number of changes and we want parents and students to be able to consider these when making decisions about education for that year.

The main changes proposed are to:

  • remove the discretionary provision of wholly free Post 16 transport for learners with SEND
  • remove of the discretionary provision of additional drop off and collection times for Post 16 learners to accommodate partial attendance
  • introduce qualifying criteria for learners seeking transport support for new education courses started after their 19th birthday.

The consultation document provides more information on the changes being proposed and the full Statements are available to view from the Consultation documents section.

How to get involved

Your feedback is important in helping us to ensure we have considered the transport needs for eligible pupils and Post 16 students that require additional support from KCC to get to their place of learning.

Complete the consultation questionnaire to tell us your views.

Following the end of the consultation we will take all responses into consideration and produce a consultation report. Findings from the consultation will be discussed by Cabinet Committees in May and June 2023.

Update: November 2023

The findings from this consultation were discussed by Members of the Children’s, Young People and Education (CYPE) Cabinet Committee on 18 July 2023 and at Scrutiny Committee on 13 September 2023.

Following these meeting, the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills took the decision to adopt the Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16 and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2024/25.

These policies will come into effect for the 2024-25 academic year and will be available on Kent.gov.

Update: July 2023

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Children’s, Young People and Education (CYPE) Cabinet Committee on 18 July 2023.

Cabinet Committee Members are being asked to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills on the adoption of both the Home to School Transport Policy and Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2024/25. More information is available in the Cabinet Committee reports.

The Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2023/24 was discussed at the CYPE Cabinet Committee on 16 May. Members endorsed the proposed decision to agree the proposed Policy Statement for 2023/24. Following this the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills has taken the decision to adopt the Policy Statement for 2023/24.

We would like to get your views on our:

  • Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16, to come into effect from the 2024-25 academic year, and

  • Post 16 Transport Policy Statements for 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years.

We would also like to take this opportunity to gather feedback on our Home to School and Post-16 Transport Retendering Procedure for pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and/or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which can be found in annex 7 of the draft Transport Policy.

Home to School Transport Policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16

The consultation document provides an overview of the draft Policy, including details of any changes to provision. In summary, the Policy:

  • brings together existing guidance and provides information on how procedures work so that we are being as transparent as possible
  • aims to reduce the administrative burden that parents may face when securing transport for their children
  • reinforces the support that we provide to children in our care
  • incorporates how we will fulfil our legal duties to identify pupils aged between 4 to 16 who are entitled to free school transport and provide them with suitable arrangements to get to school
  • explains how and where we can take a family’s personal circumstances into account and how decisions for additional support will be considered
  • highlights alternatives to placing entitled children in KCC provided vehicles
  • explains the appeals process for when applicants disagree with their child’s assessment.

The consultation document and full draft Home to School Transport Policy are available from the Consultation documents section on this page.

Post 16 Transport Policy Statement

No changes are being proposed for the 2023-24 Statement. However, the Department for Education requires us to consult each year, regardless of any changes, to ensure the Statement provides a full picture of the available transport and support.

We are also consulting on the 2024-25 Statement, which includes support for 19+ learners with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as it proposes a number of changes and we want parents and students to be able to consider these when making decisions about education for that year.

The main changes proposed are to:

  • remove the discretionary provision of wholly free Post 16 transport for learners with SEND
  • remove of the discretionary provision of additional drop off and collection times for Post 16 learners to accommodate partial attendance
  • introduce qualifying criteria for learners seeking transport support for new education courses started after their 19th birthday.

The consultation document provides more information on the changes being proposed and the full Statements are available to view from the Consultation documents section.

How to get involved

Your feedback is important in helping us to ensure we have considered the transport needs for eligible pupils and Post 16 students that require additional support from KCC to get to their place of learning.

Complete the consultation questionnaire to tell us your views.

Following the end of the consultation we will take all responses into consideration and produce a consultation report. Findings from the consultation will be discussed by Cabinet Committees in May and June 2023.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Have your say!

    Kent County Council (KCC) would like to hear your views and have provided this questionnaire for you to give us your feedback. 

    We recommend that you read the consultation document before answering these questions.

    This questionnaire is split into five sections: 

    • Section 1 - About You
    • Section 2 - Home to School Transport Policy for Children and Young People ages 4 to 16
    • Section 3 - Post 16 Transport Policy Statements
    • Section 4 - Home to School and Post-16 Transport Retendering Procedure for Pupils with an EHCP and/or SEND
    • Section 5 - More About You.


    You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one.