Equality Impact Assessment - Special Educational Needs Home to School Transport

(Note: for information contained in documents to which reference is made, contact Chris Morgan on 020 8547 5300 or email chris.morgan@rbk.kingston.gov.uk)

Function being assessed:

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Home to School Transport

Is this a new function or a review of an existing function?

A new SEN Home to School Policy from 1 April 2007, governing an existing function (previous policy was last reviewed in 2003). For further details see link at the bottom of this page.

What are the aims/purpose of the function?

To promote inclusive opportunities to enable people with additional needs to fulfil their educational and social potential by providing transport assistance to and from school. The policy facilitates joint working between pupils, parents, the school and the Local Authority to encourage independence and to support those who require additional transport assistance by setting criteria in which this assistance will be provided.

Is the function designed to meet specific needs such as the needs of minority ethnic groups, older people, disabled people etc?

It is designed to provide additional support to pupils with Special Educational Needs and some with physical disabilities.

What information has been gathered on this function? Attach a summary or refer to where the evidence can be found.

The policy was drafted in consultation with parents, schools, users, transport providers and other professional bodies and was approved by the Council's Executive in January 2007.

Of those receiving transport assistance, all have either a statement of Special Educational Needs (assessed through a Statutory Assessment process) or have a medical condition which does not allow them to access education without support.

The following is a breakdown of ethnic groups receiving transport assistance for reasons of SEN or disability (dated 1 May 2007). This is held on the SEN Database. Note that a large proportion of information is not provided. This information is not obtained during the applications process but is provided through the schools admissions database after transport has been provided.

Ethnic Group	Number	Percentage (%)
Asian/Bangladesh	2	0.66
Asian/Indian	9	2.96
Asian/other	13	4.28
Asian/Pakistani	4	1.32
Black/African	10	3.29
Black/Caribbean	2	0.66
Mixed/other	12	3.95
Mixed/White and Asian	3	0.99
Mixed/White and Black African	1	0.33
Mixed/White and Black Caribbean	3	0.99
Not obtained	56	18.42
Korean	4	1.32
Other ethnic group	3	0.99
White/English	170	55.92
White/European	6	1.97
White other	1	0.33
White/other white British	3	0.99
WSCO/Scottish	1	0.33
White Welsh	1	0.33

Gender, religion and belief are not monitored and sexual orientation data is not currently held.

This applies to children and young people.

There have been nine appeals since 2002 against SEN Transport decisions.

Background information is held by the Commissioning & Procurement Team in the Learning and Children’s Services Directorate. See contact details above.

Does your analysis of the information show different outcomes for different groups (higher or lower uptake/failure to access/receive a poorer or inferior service)? If yes, indicate which groups and which aspects of the policy or function contribute to inequality?

The policy exists to ensure equality and to enable pupils with SEN and disabilities to access education by providing assistance to those who meet the criteria.

There are no indications that the information shows different outcomes for different groups. The data of ethnic groupings for ALL children under 19 (source 2003) and those on the disabled children’s register (source 2006 data) compares favourably with the representations of those currently receiving transport assistance under the above.

Ethnic Group	All under-19 year-olds (percentage)	Pupils on Disabled Childrens Register (percentage)
Asian	9%	9%
Mixed	5%	6%
Black	2%	4%
Chinese	5%	4%
White	79%	73%
Unknown	-	4%

Although gender, religion and belief and sexual orientation are not monitored, there is no evidence to show that these groups are differently affected under the policy.

This policy only applies to children and young people.

Past appeals do not show any relation to the type of appeal and any disadvantage based on the type of disability, the type of SEN or any other disadvantage to any particular group.

Are these differences justified (e.g. are there legislative or other constraints)? If they are, explain in what way.

The Local Authority’s statutory duty is met within the SEN Policy and offers additional support to pupils with SEN and Disabilities. There are no differences evidenced for any of the groups.

All pupils under the age of 16 receive free bus and tram travel on transport for London routes and all pupils under 18 in full time education receive the same assistance.

What action needs to be taken as a result of this Equality Impact Assessment to address any detrimental impacts or meet previously unidentified need? Include here any reasonable adjustments for access by disabled people. Include dates by which action will be taken. Attach an action plan if necessary.

The monitoring data shown above, including the number and nature of appeals will be used as a benchmark. Ongoing monitoring will take place every six months to ensure no groups are disadvantaged.

Consultation/surveys will take place on an annual basis with service users.

Parent guidance has been improved and will include multi-language explanations and explain assistance for those with reading difficulties and those groups with sight difficulties.

When will you evaluate the impact of action taken? Give review dates.

Review of monitoring data will be taken every six months. The next review will be in October 2007.

A consultation event for service users will take place in Autumn 2007.

Assessment completed by:

Name: CHRIS MORGAN, Commissioning and Procurement Strategic Manager

Service: Learning and Children’s Services

Date: 9 May 2007

Also see:

Information on Special Educational Needs Transport