MyEDC

    Technical Notes 2024, Issue 123 - Concessionary School Transport Arrangements

    • Report by:

      Jamie Robertson, Executive Officer – Finance and Digital Services

    • TN Number:

      123-24

    • Subject:

      Concessionary School Transport Arrangements

    • Responsible Officer:

      Steven Wright, Business & ICT Support Services Manager

    • Publication:

      This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council

    Section

    1. The purpose of this Technical Note is to update Members on concessionary school transport arrangements for the new term.

    2. Parents and carers can apply for concessionary school transport places if they do not meet the criteria for free school transport. Free school transport is currently provided to those primary school pupils who live more than one mile from their catchment school and secondary school pupils who live more than three miles from their catchment school in line with the Council’s Policy on the Provision of School Transport. 

    3. Pupils concessionary travel can only be awarded where there is spare capacity on a vehicle after all pupils eligible for free transport have been accommodated and provided that the allocation of a pupils concessionary travel seat does not incur the authority any additional costs. 

    4. In East Dunbartonshire, the allocation of these seats has been previously made just before the schools return in August, by which time the final number of pupils entitled for free travel is known. This is not the case for many other  local authorities who allocate concessionary places some weeks after the start of the new term.

    5. SPT has advised the Council that it will not be able to confirm concessionary school transport places to applicants in East Dunbartonshire at the start of term in August. 

    6. In line with other local authorities, SPT will confirm concessionary school transport places in East Dunbartonshire to begin on Tuesday 1 October, following the school September Weekend holiday.

    7. Free school transport places and school transport contracts are not affected by this, and will operate as planned from Wednesday 14 August, the start of school term for pupils.