§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the additional school transport required in(a) The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and (b) Wokingham District as a result of the Government's plans for housing; and what additional funding he has provided for it. [81759]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggIt is for local education authorities to determine how much to spend on home-school transport, taking account of need in their area. Funding for home to school transport is routed through the Education Standard Spending Assessment.
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§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his policy on pilot-free school bus transport for secondary school pupils living less than three miles from school, with special reference to Staffordshire. [82441]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggLocal education authorities (LEAs) are encouraged to pilot and evaluate changes to home to school transport entitlement, particularly where low income groups may otherwise be cut off from successful schools or alternative types of learning locally.
Some LEAs have already expressed an interest in exploring such pilots, including Staffordshire County Council. The outcome of their bid for funding under the Rural Bus Challenge will be announced early in the new year. LEAs are also encouraged to seek funding through local Public Service Agreements when these are negotiated or renegotiated.