Parents, carers, young people, schools and colleges are being invited to help shape the future of Southamptonโs School Travel Service.
Southampton City Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on proposed policy changes for the 2027/28 academic year.
The School Travel Service helps eligible children and young people access education through a range of travel support options and the council reviews the service policies every year to ensure that they stay up to date, set out the travel support available, and are aligned with current legislation, guidance and service delivery arrangements.
The proposed policies seek to make the service clearer and easier to understand, while ensuring it remains in line with national guidance and local requirements. The consultation includes proposed changes to application processes, charges and contributions, reimbursement arrangements and other operational aspects of the service. The council is not proposing changes to the legal eligibility criteria for travel support.
The proposed changes are set out in full in the draft policies currently being consulted on. Feedback from everyone taking part will be carefully considered and will guide the final draft of the policies before they are considered for approval by councillors next year.
Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
We know how important school travel arrangements are for children, young people and their families, so it's vital that we hear directly from the people who use these services.
We are asking parents, carers, schools, colleges and residents to take a look at the proposed changes and tell us what they think. Your feedback will help ensure the policies are as clear, fair and effective as possible. Please do take part and help us shape these important policies.
The consultation opens on 21 September and runs until 14 December 2026 and includes a number of in-person and online events for people to attend to hear more and ask questions. Information on how to take part in the events is available on the School Travel Service pages of the council's website, and consultation documents and questionnaires are available on the consultations and surveys pages of the councilโs website.
