Transport rule change for village schools

Families affected by the reorganisation of two North Yorkshire primary schools will continue to qualify for free school transport after an exception to the council's transport policy was approved.

North Yorkshire Council has agreed to apply a "nearest gate in the federation" rule for the Federation of Middleham and Spennithorne Primary Schools in Wensleydale.

The move means eligible pupils can qualify for free transport based on whichever of the two schools is closest to their home, rather than each school being treated separately.

Officials said the change would ensure children were "not disadvantaged by the reorganisation" while helping to secure the future of the two village schools.

The reorganisation will see Spennithorne becoming an infant school for children aged four to seven and Middleham become a junior school for pupils aged seven to 11.

The federation requested the change after concerns some families could lose entitlement to free transport, because the school their child was required to attend under the new arrangements would not technically be the nearest suitable school to their home.

Children already eligible for free transport and enrolled at either school by 1 September will retain that entitlement for the remainder of their education within the federation, provided their circumstances do not change.

New applicants will qualify where either of the federation's schools is their nearest suitable school and they live beyond the statutory walking distance.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the arrangement was also dependent on the federation continuing to provide transport between the two sites where needed.

A six-week consultation attracted five responses, four of which supported the proposal.

Council officers concluded the amendment would not result in significant additional costs and recommended it be adopted.

The council said the exemption would support the school reorganisation while remaining consistent with statutory guidance on home-to-school transport.

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