Please advise:
1. The total number of children that the Council funded transport from home to school in the financial year 2022/23 and the total cost for all such children.
The total average number of pupils transported each month during financial year 2022/2023 was 14,850 with a total spend for financial year 2022/2023 of £42,608,005.00. This covers both mainstream and Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND).
2. The total number of children that the Council funded transport from home to school in the financial year 2022/23 and the total cost for children in foster care.
Transport funded through the Education Home to school transport policy does not record whether a child is in foster care. If they are eligible for school transport the reason will be based on their foster care address and the school attended, not because of the Foster Care placement. Any Foster Care children not eligible under the Education Transport policy would be funded through social care budgets if they had an eligible need for transport.
3. The total number of children that the Council funded transport from home to school in the financial year 2022/23 and the total cost for children with Special Educational Needs.
The total average number of pupils with SEND transported each month during financial year 2022/2023 was 2,227 with a total spend for financial year 2022/2023 of £25,057,194.00.
4. The total number of children that the Council funded transport from home to school in the financial year 2022/23 and the total cost for children whose nearest suitable school is beyond two miles (if below the age of eight) or beyond three miles (if aged between eight and sixteen).
Devon County Council’s Education transport policy provides transport over 2 miles for all primary age pupils up to the end of year 6. This does not change to 3 miles when a young person reaches 8 years of age. For the financial year 2022/2023 the number of primary aged pupils transported was a total of 2,452 (including those with SEND and living on unavailable walking routes) at a total cost of £4,730,037.00. For secondary aged pupils, a total of 9,966 pupils were transported (including those with SEND and living on unavailable walking routes) at a cost of £13,268,831.00.
5. The highest daily cost of home to school for any individual pupil in the financial year 2022/23.
The highest cost route for financial year 2022/2023 for an individual passenger was £364.00 per day.