Residents are being invited to share their views on proposed changes to how North Yorkshire Council provides home to school travel to eligible pupils with the launch of a consultation.

Parents, carers, schools and other stakeholders will be able to take part in the survey that launched today (Monday, September 21), following a post implementation review of the council’s policy.

The review was promised after a revised policy was introduced in September 2024, which changed the main eligibility for free home to school travel so that it applies only to a child’s nearest school.

The current policy was launched to ensure the service is financially sustainable, fair to all families and in line with government guidance.

A series of 24 recommendations have been drawn up, with seven of the proposed changes due to be discussed at a full council meeting in November.

The consultation, which will run until Wednesday, November 4, is focused on these seven recommendations.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “When the policy changed, we promised to review how it was working in practice and to listen to the experiences of families.

“That is exactly what we have done, and this consultation is giving people the chance to give their views of some of the key recommendations.

“We would encourage people to take part as this is your opportunity to have your say and help us to shape the future of our home to school travel policy in North Yorkshire.”

North Yorkshire Council provides home to school transport for about 11,000 eligible pupils across England’s largest county, with many families living in often deeply rural communities.

The service costs more than £52 million each year and supports many children who travel long distances to school, particularly in rural areas.

The review assessed how the current policy is working through analysis of appeals, complaints, data and feedback from parents, carers, schools and other stakeholders.

The recommendations that are forming the basis of the consultation include plans to update the policy to allow greater discretion for routes used to a child’s nearest school.

The consultation is also seeking views on whether discretionary measures should be considered where two schools share the same drop-off point for council-run transport.

Currently this affects Ripon Grammar School and Outwood Academy, Ripon, as well as some drop-off points used by Richmond School and St Francis Xavier School.

Other proposals include allowing routes to be removed from a mapping system if it is deemed unreasonable for a pupil or vehicle to use them, and also making information clearer about how home to school distances are measured.

The consultation will also focus on five routes in particularly remote areas of North Yorkshire which the review recommended are removed from the mapping system as they can be affected by severe weather or impractical driving conditions.

These routes are Fleet Moss Road, Keld to Kirkby Stephen, Buttertubs Pass, The Stang and Kidstone Pass. Other routes that are identified through the consultation will also be considered for removal from the mapping system if they are assessed as unsuitable.

The review’s remaining 17 recommendations were discussed by the council’s executive on Friday last week (September 18). A total of 10 recommendations were approved by councillors.

The other seven were noted by elected members as they related to measures already in place in the current policy, such as continuing to base eligibility for home to school travel on a child’s nearest suitable school with available places instead of using a catchment school. The executive also asked for shared drop-off points to be included in the consultation.

Any approved policy changes will not take effect before September 2027 and will apply to children starting in Reception and Year 7 in September 2028.

Parents and carers applying this academic year for a school place for their child to start in Reception or Year 7 in September 2027 are reminded that until any decisions are made, the current policy remains in place. Families should continue to make school preference decisions based on the existing policy.

People can take part in the consultation at www.northyorks.gov.uk/PIRsurvey up until the deadline of Wednesday, November 4.

Alternative formats will also be offered on request and paper copies will be available at the council’s libraries for anyone who is unable to access the consultation online.

You can find out more about school admissions and how to apply at www.northyorks.gov.uk/starting-secondary-school ahead of a deadline of Saturday, October 31.