Proposed changes to Home to School Transport from September 2025

Monmouthshire County Council is undertaking public consultation on proposed changes to its home to school transport policy. The council’s current policy exceeds the statutory requirements; as such, we are looking to align our provision closer to our legislative duties and other Local Authorities across Wales. With the cost of providing home to school transport services increasing annually, Monmouthshire County Council will need to consider whether to exceed the national statutory requirements. If there is support for the new policy, it will be implemented in September 2025, and it is anticipated that the subsequent budgetary savings will be in the region of £800k.

Due to budget challenges that the council faces over the coming years, the council is developing its medium-term financial strategy to outline how it will address the range of potential funding shortfalls. This will involve changes to service delivery, potentially including home to school transport provision.

At present, we provide transportation for 2,828 students to 54 educational establishments, with the current cost equivalent to £2,894 per learner. The council is seeking your feedback on potential changes to our Home to School Transport Policy to establish a more financially sustainable transportation model for the future.

We are seeking your feedback on the following options. If approved, the changes will be implemented from September 2025, removing all legacy protection and will apply to existing and future users of the home to school transport service.

• Removal of transport for all learners who have a safe walking route and live within the statutory distances of two miles of their nearest suitable primary school or three miles of their nearest suitable secondary school.

• In instances where the council is unable to secure an external operator, or if it is the best financial option, parents will be offered a personal transport budget to transport their children to and from school. This proposal will apply to all, including ALN learners.

If the council adopted statutory distances, an estimated saving of £700k per annum is projected.

We have been providing Personal Transport Budgets (PTB) on a discretionary basis in specific circumstances for a number of years. We are proposing that we will now offer a PTB where we are unable to secure standalone transport, where the costs of the contract exceed that of a PTB, or where we are providing transport for learners who live less than a mile from their nearest suitable school but do not have an available walking route. Parents or guardians will be provided with a budget of 45p per mile, plus £10 an hour for their travelling time (if the parent is transporting their own child). This will apply to all learners eligible for free home to school transport, including ALN learners. This will be a voluntary arrangement and where parents /guardians decline, the council will continue to provide transport.

We have to continue to make difficult decisions, based on our current financial position so that we can continue to meet our statutory obligations. These options will ensure that we continue to meet our home to school transport legal obligations and that all learners who meet the criteria can access free home to school transport.

Full details of the options can be seen here

Have Your Say

We welcome your feedback and would encourage those potentially affected by the options to take part in the consultation and share your views.