Fewer children are being taken to school via Isle of Wight Council-provided transport, yet the cost to provide it has risen.
In 2012, the council paid £3.6 million to take 2,317 pupils to school but this year paid £700,000 more — £4.3 million to transport 1,614 pupils.
The Island’s authority is looking at ways of saving money as the council is already over budget this financial year due to increased demand for special education needs (SEN) transport.
At the moment, only 9.7% of school pupils (1,614) are eligible for school transport — 1,111 mainstream pupils on Southern Vectis school buses and 503 SEN pupils on a mix of taxi and minibus provision. In mainstream schools, the number of children eligible for transport has fallen by 44% in the last ten years, from 1,992 to 1,111, and costs have reduced from £2.9m to £1.9m.
This is because of the removal of catchment areas in 2015 and the opening of the Island Free School in Ventnor.
Outside the mainstream provision, over the same period, the number of SEN children needing transport has doubled — from 169 to 352 — increasing costs by £1.25 million, to £1.7 million.
The council has said pressures have come from a shortage of places at dedicated SEN schools meaning pupils have to travel further; a large number of EHCP plans and the need for adapted vehicles. The council’s demand modelling indicates transport could be provided for 461 SEN pupils by 2027 and costs could rise to £5.7m for all children by 2026.
Speaking at a children’s education scrutiny committee earlier this month, officers said they needed support from central government, delegating responsibility for transport policy to local authorities.
The council is operating close to a statutory minimum of service, officers have said, and it is going to ‘be impossible to solve problems’ without statutory change from government.
Officers said they also needed help ‘reinforcing the fact’, in most cases, it is the parent’s responsibility to take their children to school.
Stuart Ashley, the council’s interim children services director, said it was a national challenge and while he would be happy to provide more home-to-school transport, it has to be funded, for which the council doesn’t have the money.
Costs have risen in 11 years, that is absolutely astounding news. Maybe the council haven’t allocated money correctly, or haven’t lobbied the government for the right funds, if they’re surprised by a rise in EHCP’s and SEN cases. We don’t pay peanuts for this council but we did get monkeys.
How else would Southern Vectis make so much money? Everyone just hates capitalism!
It probably also reflects the sharp rise in taxi rates which the council were happy to approve during the year. Not sure what statutory change has to do with this.
Little surprise our council tax rises so much, for so little return. Pensions, taxi’s and social services spending money like water. How long before we are charged for the bin collection?
I am paying £2000 a year for bin to be emptied. I drive on knackered roads and get nothing else for my money.
Totally agree. We get little, for our very expensive council tax.
But in the press, councils are considering an extra charge for the bin collection. This will be dressed up as saving the planet. Rather than just another way to rip us off.
Get the parents to take their offspring to school, it is hardly rocket science.?
I know of three families whose children get taken to school via a taxi at great expense to the taxpayers, yet none of the families work and all have two cars.
This is an absolutely diabolical arrangement.
Adults ~ do not breed unless you take full responsibility for the offspring. Most people use breeding as a cash cow with all the benefits they get from their offspring.
Free school meals during the holidays.? What is that about.?
Get your children fed yourself. Stop having tattoos and piercings, sell your smartphones and tablets and your 84 inch television, and take some responsibility for your 7 seconds of fun.
Couldn’t have put it better myself. Totally agree.
Free meals during holiday ended a year ago, and maybe instead of worrying so much about those below you, you should care more about those above you who have successfully brainwashed you to blame those with less, as opposed to those who hoard all the wealth.
If you need any of the big words explaining I can help.
How many seats are empty on school busses that instead of charging a fortune they could release them cheaper. What happened with in-house Group 90 transport?
Get rid of all these free buses and taxis. People earn money and should pay for the privilege of taking their children to school. I shouldn’t be paying for it.
It would be cheaper to send children to schools close to where they live.
I have friends who live near a school, but their children travel miles to go to another
School.
The logistics is crap on the Island,
The total income from council tax on the island is £97 million and they are wasting over £4 million of that on school transport. Make the parents pay like they do in most other areas. It is ridiculous.
Many of the parents do pay towards the cost. The issue is that taxis charge ridiculous fees, not that some families need a step up.
Be better.
When the council allowed for taxi prices to go up did they really think it would cost them less to provide taxi services?