Still time to have your say on proposed changes to assisted travel for children and young people
A survey was launched in October giving residents the chance to have their say on potential changes to two assisted travel policies; the Home to School Transport for children aged 5 to 16 and the post-16 Transport Statement for older children and young people. The consultation will remain open for a further six week, so there’s still time to have your say on proposed changes to the way some children and young people travel to school across Wirral.
The two policies set out how the council supports a small number of pupils who find it difficult to travel to school or college without some assistance. Both policies are due for review, having not been refreshed for a number of years. While there is a need to make savings and reduce the environmental impact of the service, the council is also looking at how it can utilise some of the savings to help more children and young people travel independently.
The consultation asks parents, carers and the young people who use the service for their views on the possible changes but is also open to any resident who would like to have a say.
Currently around 2,200 children and young people get to school using transport provided by the council. This includes approximately 1,900 children up to age 16 and 230 aged 16 and over.
We want to make sure we provide modern services that help our SEND children and young people develop and grow in the future. To do this we need to ensure we have a stable financial footing with sustainable costs – while offering a service that supports the young people who need it the most.
Home to School Transport will cost the council £12.5 million for the 2024/25 financial year and based on current projections, this is expected to rise further. We’re also hearing that, like us, councils across the country are struggling with a shortage of transport providers, suitable vehicles, and qualified drivers. Given these challenges, the polices have been reviewed and we now need input from local people to shape how we move forward.
A key aim of changing the assisted travel policies is also to enable the council to fund more Independent Travel Training. This is one-to-one travel support to teach young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) the skills, knowledge and confidence to use public transport on their own. As part of this increased independence, the consultation survey will also ask for views on the introduction of pick up points, where young people who have the capability, and support, could be collected for their transport from central points such as bus stops.
By offering more Independent Travel Training, we will be able to increase the confidence, independence, self-esteem and wellbeing of young people in Wirral. We have strong aspirations for our young people with SEND in Wirral and believe that providing training for valuable skills can help them thrive in their communities now and in the future.
The consultation is due to finish on Sunday 4 January 2026.
Any feedback received will be collected and reviewed by the Children, Young People and Education Committee in March 2026 and used to inform decisions on policy change. Anyone who currently receives transport, or a travel pass, will not be affected by any changes whilst they are in their current school or college course. If changes to the policies are agreed these will not take place until September 2026.
How to have your say
Visit www.haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/assisted-travel-review to complete the survey, where you can also find an explanation of the proposed changes to both policies, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Use this form to request a paper copy of the survey, which is also available in Easy Read format: Assisted Travel Review Survey Request Form.
