The consultation, running from October 21 to December 9, aims to gather feedback to make school travel arrangements more flexible to meet the varying needs of children, service demands, and market pressures.
The policy proposals were developed after discussions with parents and a reviewing of current practices, with the goal of providing families with more choices, independence, and control.
Despite the emphasis on value for money, the proposals do not suggest changes to the eligibility for assistance, nor are there plans to reduce the number of children and young people using the service.
Councillor Elaine Lynch, executive member for lifelong learning and development, said: “Getting to and from school is a crucial part of the daily lives of children, young people and families.
“We understand that this can be much more challenging for some families, and we have engaged with representatives of SENDAC to co-produce the consultation.
“We now invite everyone in Cumberland who wishes to have their say to respond and help us shape a travel policy that not only meets the needs of our communities but also supports our commitment to sustainability as a council.”
The consultation seeks opinions on different proposals, including offering training to young people to help them access transport.
The council encourages residents to complete the consultation response form, available online at Cumberland.gov.uk/HaveYourSay, or to fill out a paper copy.
For further information, individuals can attend one of the council’s drop-in sessions, both online and in person.
The first drop-in session will take place on Teams on October 24 from 11 am to midday.
The deadline for responses is December 9.
