Walsall transport cuts: Parents to have say on children's three-mile walk to school

Pupils between eight and 11 who fail to meet the revised criteria will be offered no help with transport under a planned overhaul to Walsall council's 'home to school transport' policy.

The walking distance limit for young pupils at the moment is two miles.

The cost-cutting measures could also see a raft of changes brought in to change ways disabled children or those with special educational needs get to school.

Cabinet members agreed to launch a public consultation on the review from September 16 to November 1 at a meeting held at Walsall's Council House on Wednesday.

It will see tougher criteria for pupils to meet to qualify for transport. The service had a budget of £1.89 million last year, which was spent on direct travel assistance for those with special needs and bus passes for others.

The review could also lead to a dramatic reduction in direct assistance for those with special needs and disabilities. Parents of children aged 16 and over with special educational needs could also be asked to contribute to travel costs.

Other suggestions include bringing in Independent Travel Training, which teaches youngsters how to travel independently in a safe and responsible way, at a cost of £700 per pupil.

More than 600 young people with special educational needs currently get assistance with transport each day across the borough.

Councillor Rose Burley, who is the council's cabinet member for children's services and education, told the meeting: "We spend £11,000 every day of the school year getting children from school safely and efficiently.

"At the end of the day this review is forced upon us because of the austerity we are going to face. We will report back in December but I just want to stress that this is a consultation exercise. Following that consultation we will have the report back."

Under other plans, parents and carers of children who are five-years-old and younger will receive no support unless they are in exceptional circumstances.

The council had a budget of £1.8m for the service last year and used 80 per cent of it on direct travel assistance for those children with special needs or disabilities.

That is set to reduce by at least £250,000 this year and £225,000 in 2017/18.

Conservative group leader Councillor Mike Bird said: "It is always an emotive issue. It does stir emotions but we have to look at everything."

The authority no longer provides transport support for children between 16 and 18, other than for those who have special educational needs or disabilities.