A NEW consultation on proposals to end school transport funding for young people aged 16 and over who have special educational needs and disability (SEND), will now take place after the school summer holidays.
The city council had planned to start consulting from early June, but rules covering the pre-election period prevent it from launching new consultations during the run-up to an election.
Laurence Jones, the council’s strategic director of social care and education said: “We are not allowed to launch this consultation until after the election on July 4, and this would take us very close to the end of the summer term on July 12.
“It’s important that schools are involved in the consultation, so we are now planning to start it in the new autumn term at the beginning of September.
“As previously stated, funding for post-16 transport will not end in July, and if future changes are made, the timing would be announced in any formal decision we would make during the 2024/2025 academic year.”
Funding had been due to end in July this year, following a consultation that took place two years ago. Some parents had raised concerns about the consultation process and said they were not made aware of the proposals at the time.
Like other authorities across the country, the council says that years of Government funding cuts mean it is having to look at all services it’s not legally required to provide.
The majority of the council’s budget is spent on children’s and adult’s social care which are legally required services.
Once published, the consultation will be available on the council’s website here: Leicester City Council - Citizen Space