Home to School Transport   Upper Wharfedale & Littondale

North Yorkshire Council has recently changed its home-to-school transport rules. For many families, these changes came as a shock last year — often only becoming clear when transport was refused in May. Rural families have been particularly badly affected.

• North Yorkshire Council's  stated objective is to reduce the cost of school transport

  • • Doubtful whether these changes will achieve that

• Policy applies to children starting / changing school.

• Principle: “where children live beyond walking distance to school, the council will provide transport to the nearest school to the child’s home”

• Policy is based on Education Act 1996 and DfE Statutory Guidance 2024 

  • • • But ignores key parts of the statutory guidance

• Policy ignores geography, topography and weather of the upper dales

  • • • Few roads / nature of roads between dales / few schools / extreme weather

• Key issues are:

  • • • Eligibility – Nearest School only

      • How “Nearest school” is defined

      • Safety of road transport

      • The appeals process

• For suggestions on how to make your voice heard, go to: Make your Voice Heard

• For details of who to contact, go to: Who to Contact

• For more details - go to: Info & Resources