THURROCK Council is considering cutting back on the help it gives to residents for travel and transport to get their children to school – saying the current cost to the borough is 'unsustainable'.

One of the changes the council is considering is removing the help it gives to families with special needs children aged 16 or over.

The council says: "In 2013, Thurrock Council stopped providing transport for most students of sixth form age (16-18). However, we continued to provide help with transport for this age group where they have special educational needs or disabilities without charging their families.

"The law says that local authorities do not have to provide transport for these students. It also says that where we choose to offer help with transport we may charge the family. Most local authorities charge for transport in these circumstances."

They are seeking residents' views on that change and others and has launched a consultation which it says will help it reshape its Home to School Travel and Transport policy.

The council says: "Thurrock's highly successful growth and regeneration programme has led to an increase in our population. As a result of this, there is an increased number of school-aged children who live in Thurrock, many of whom are eligible for assistance with travel or transport.

"The cost of such assistance is increasing at an unsustainable rate.

"Thurrock Council wants to work with our community to develop methods that increase independence and confidence in our children whilst reducing the cost to our community.

"Developing students' independence and confidence to travel on their own whilst supporting families to get their children to school is very important to us. Some students or families are eligible for help with travel to and from school and the council have a duty to support them.

"We would like your views on the proposed changes to our Home to School Travel and Transport policy and the potential impact this has on you and members of your community. This consultation will help to gather environmentally-friendly travel solutions that will work for children, families and communities."

Other questions in the survey are:

Temporary accommodation

Sometimes Thurrock Council has to place families in temporary accommodation for a short time while we arrange their permanent housing. At times, they spend more time in temporary accommodation than we planned. During this period, the Council pays the cost of the travel so that the child can continue to attend their school in Thurrock.

Should the Council make families living in temporary accommodation for more than 3 months apply to a school near the accommodation in order to avoid long journeys to school? *

Applying for school places

The law requires us to provide transport for children who live over a certain distance from the school they attend provided it is the nearest suitable school to their home that has a place for them.

However, parents have the right to choose which school they prefer regardless of the distance from their home. Where parents choose to send their child to a school that is not the nearest suitable school to their home address they will have to arrange and pay for transport themselves. We will only provide free home to school transport when a child attends their nearest suitable school with a place available and that school is over the distance set by law.

Our Admissions brochure and our Home to School Transport policy will make the position clear.

Should the Council make it clear to parents that transport will only be provided where parents have applied to the nearest three schools to their home address in the case of applications for a primary school place and to the six nearest schools from their home address in in the case of applications for a secondary school place? *

Availability of school places

Sometimes we have to place a child at a school because there are no places at their nearest suitable school. The distance to the next suitable school available is far enough for the child to be entitled to transport.

If a place later becomes available at a suitable school near their home address, should the Council expect the child to move back to their neighbourhood school and stop paying for the transport?

Though the survey is not featured on the home page of the council's consultation section on its website you can access it via the red button link below.