§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what responsibilities a local education authority has for transport to school in cases where(a) the child is disabled, (b) both parents are or the sole parent is disabled and (c) one parent is disabled; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherIn assessing a child with special educational needs under the provisions of the Education Act 1981, a local education authority is required to take into account any non-educational provision which may be necessary to enable the child to gain access to the curriculum. This includes the need for transport, which must be provided free to children whose needs require it.
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Local education authority Primary expenditure Secondary expenditure Primary cost per pupil Secondary cost per pupil (£000) (£000) (£) (£) Barking 13,428 14,623 1,010 1,470 Barnet 22,111 27,691 1,060 1,510 Bexley 15,042 21,751 915 1,370 Brent 22,485 23,465 1,105 1,805 Bromley 17,531 24,971 925 1,420 Croydon 22,519 28,750 935 1,535 Ealing 27,336 20,702 1,135 1,650 Enfield 18,180 24,422 890 1,380 Haringey n/a n/a n/a n/a Harrow 16,484 15,951 1,020 1,600 Havering 16,804 27,189 905 1,510 Hillingdon 17,248 21,811 1,000 1,520 Hounslow 17,837 20,181 1,065 1,505 Kingston- Upon-Thames 8,248 12,252 915 1,530 Merton 8,075 16,548 950 1,325 Newham n/a n/a n/a n/a Redbridge 14,847 20,485 935 1,465 Richmond-Upon-Thames 8,973 9,137 1,000 1,330 Sutton 9,049 14,723 855 1,300 Waltham Forest 18,390 25,719 1,095 1,915 ILEA 228,423 267,983 1,460 2,345 Birmingham 79,083 97,401 835 1,345 Coventry 23,725 33,032 910 1,485 Dudley 21,960 26,361 830 1,350 Sandwell 25,633 31,856 960 1,410 Solihull 14,528 21,290 845 1,280 Walsall 23,304 32,155 970 1,430 Wolverhampton 21,824 26,635 985 1,395 Knowsley 15,064 18,309 960 1,515 Liverpool 42,123 49,740 980 1,445 St. Helens 14,231 20,211 860 1,340 Sefton 19,223 27,700 800 1,275 Wirral 22,856 30,524 815 1,280 Bolton 18,668 25,003 780 1,230 The law governing home to school transport for other children is laid down by section 55 of the Education Act 1944, as amended by section 53 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986. Parents of children who do not qualify for free transport under section 55(1) may ask the LEA to exercise its discretion under section 55(2). Each case is considered on its merits in accordance with the policy of the authority. Section 55(2) applies as much to disabled parents as to other parents.