At the recent budget meeting (2023-24), the council agreed to change the existing qualifying mileage limits for free mainstream school transport as a way of saving £3.6million against a backdrop of having to save £65million over the next three years.

This means that the qualifying distance criteria for pupils requiring home-to-school transport (currently one mile for primary and two miles for secondary) will be changed in line with the majority of local authorities in Scotland. 27 of the 32 councils in Scotland have higher mileage limits than North Lanarkshire Council.

Under the change, we will provide transport for: 

• Any primary pupil who lives more than two miles from their catchment school by the nearest acceptable walking route will be eligible for school transport.
• Any secondary pupil who lives more than three miles from their catchment school by the nearest acceptable walking route will be eligible for school transport.

The law says that councils must provide free school transport for:

• Any child under 8 years of age who lives more than two miles from their school.
• Any child over 8 years of age who lives more than three miles from their school.

This means that, for many pupils affected, the free transport entitlement will go beyond that set out in law. Based on current levels, we estimate that almost 3000 children and young people will be affected.

We also want this change to encourage children and young people to adopt more active travel options such as walking or cycling where it is safe to do so. Evidence tells us that this can play a significant part in improving mental health and wellbeing as well as providing opportunities to lower carbon emissions by reducing the number of buses on our roads.

These changes do not affect home-to-school transport for children with additional support needs.

Consultation

This change will affect a number of school pupils and the council has a legal obligation to consult on this type of change. It is also important that we hear the views of parents/carers, pupils and other interested parties such as Education Scotland through a consultation so that informed decisions can be made. 

The consultation will take place between 27 February 2023 and 28 April 2023 and you can respond by completing the online survey below:

It is important that you have information about this change so that you can take part in the consultation process.

The online survey asks some specific questions regarding the proposal and provides a further opportunity to add any questions. Separate written submissions can also be accepted by letter or email until Friday 28 April 2023, when the consultation is scheduled to end.

Drop-in sessions

In addition to an online survey, there will be nine drop-in sessions where parents/carers of pupils from any school and other interested parties can attend and speak to our officers.

Times, booking and information about each drop-in session are available below.

To ensure we can give sufficient time to all participants, and comply with necessary safety procedures, we ask that you select a suitable time slot to attend.

You can drop into information sessions at the following places on the dates shown between the hours of 4pm and 7pm.

Submissions or queries regarding this consultation process can be emailed to SchoolTransportConsultation@northlan.gov.uk

What will changes mean for my child?

If you live within two miles from your primary school and three miles from secondary, then you will be affected. Free transport will become available only to those pupils who live more than two miles from primary school or three miles from secondary school.

Walking routes are assessed by roads engineers who adopt national guidelines to determine if a walking route is acceptable. Free transport will be provided for walking routes that are not acceptable.

People aged 5-21 are eligible for a card providing free travel on all service buses. Children and young people aged 5-21 years old will need a new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card.

While we understand that some parents may feel their child is too young to travel to school alone, it remains a parental responsibility to ensure that a child’s journey to and from school is able to be made, where no transport is provided.

When will changes come into effect?

• August 2024 for secondary pupils
• August 2025 for primary pupils

This would give families affected by the changes between one and two years to consider and plan alternative means of travel.

How many children and young people will be affected?

Based on current levels, we estimate that almost 3000 children and young people will be affected.

As well as saving money, how does this change help?

This will help to encourage children and young people to adopt more active travel options such as walking or cycling where it is safe to do so. Evidence tells us that this can play a significant part in improving mental health and wellbeing as well as providing opportunities to lower carbon emissions by reducing the number of buses on our roads and traffic around schools.

What does the law say about this?

The law says that councils must provide free school transport for:

•  Any child under 8 years of age who lives more than two miles from their school.
•  Any child over 8 years of age who lives more than three miles from their school.

This means that, for many pupils affected, the free transport entitlement will go beyond that set out in law.

Have other councils done this?

Yes, 27 of the 32 councils in Scotland have set distance criteria at higher levels than the current level in North Lanarkshire Council. Many have had this position for several years.

When will this start in North Lanarkshire?

This will start in August 2024 for secondary pupils and August 2025 for primary pupils.

My child gets transport due to Additional Support Needs, will this change?

No, these changes apply only to mainstream home-to-school transport. We will continue to assess transport for children with additional support needs on an individual needs basis.

How does the council measure distance from my home to school?

We use Geographic Information System Mapping (GIS) software to measure distance from home to the school gate. This system gives a very precise reading and takes account of acceptable walking routes.

How does the council decide that a walking route is safe or acceptable?

Walking routes are assessed by roads engineers who adopt national guidelines to determine if a walking route is acceptable. Free transport will be provided for walking routes that are not acceptable.

Are young primary children too young to walk to school by themselves?

Where no transport is provided, parents remain responsible for their child’s journey to and from school.

What are my options if my child is not entitled to free home-to-school transport, I don’t have access to a car and my child refuses to walk to school?

People aged 5 to 21 are eligible for a card providing free travel on all service buses. Children and young people aged 5 to 21 years old will need a new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card.

Why will changes for secondary schools commence in 2024 and primary schools in 2025?

We operate far more primary school transport contracts than for secondary schools due to the number of schools and the difference in distance criteria.

This gap will give us the time we need to review existing transport contracts, identify and carry out the necessary road safety assessments (including those identified as concerns by parents and carers themselves via our online consultation) and ensure that parents and carers are able to consider fully all alternative travel options open to them such as active travel and the under 22 bus pass. It will also allow us time to work closely with individual schools on local active travel initiatives open to them.

How do I know if I will be affected by the changes?

The changes will not happen until 2024 for secondary and 2025 for primary. Many pupils will join, leave or move schools in this time. Routes will continue, however they will be assessed for distance and safety and information will be published on this page.

Affected routes

As a general guide however, we can apply the changes to the current school bus contracts. This tells us that the following bus routes are likely to be affected.

Please note, however, that this remains subject to further distance measurement and road safety assessment up to any implementation in 2024 and 2025:

• Denominational schools
• Non-denominational schools
• Secondary schools