The Welsh Local Government Association and the Welsh Assembly Government have today launched a good practice guide that aims to modernise approaches to providing transport for children with special educational needs.
The publication is the result of work undertaken in Denbighshire County Council to manage the cost of transport for children with special educational needs whilst improving the quality of the service provided.
Bryan Jeffreys, Director of Learning & Development for the Vale of Glamorgan County Council and Chair of the Project Management Board set up to oversee all projects said:
“The work that has been done in Denbighshire will be an invaluable asset for all local authorities across Wales. This project has investigated ways of improving efficiency and integration within transport for special educational needs, and has yielded impressive results. The public sector across Wales will be facing funding cuts over the next 4 years and this is an excellent example of local authorities sharing good practice and engaging specialist expertise to deliver a leading edge solution which improves value for money for council tax payers.
The work done in Denbighshire shows that it is possible to achieve savings whilst maintaining and improving this vital service for some of our most vulnerable children and young people. The work, supported by Sian Thornthwaite of STC Ltd., demonstrates what can be done when procedures are modernised and transport becomes an integral part of the whole of the special education needs system.”
The good practice is available to all on the WLGA web site at http://www.wlga.gov.uk/english/school-transport1/
