The Education and Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss several key issues, including home to school transport, responses to the Local Government Ombudsman, the Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) policy, and an update on Woodeaton Manor School. The committee, chaired by Councillor Liz Brighouse OBE, Leader of the Opposition Group Labour & Cooperative, was scheduled to review and provide feedback on these topics before they are presented to the Cabinet.

Home to School Transport Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider recommendations regarding the revised Home to School Transport Policy for Reception to Year 11, and the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for the academic year 2026/27. The proposed policies reflected updates to improve language, format, and user experience, while aligning with Department for Education (DfE) guidelines. A key area of discussion was to be the proposal to introduce contribution charges for post-16 pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for travel to post-16 settings.

A public consultation on the policy ran from 23 January 2025 to 9 March 2025, and the consultation feedback was included for consideration. The consultation explored views on several areas:

• Updates to the format and language used in the policy to improve customer understanding.
• Specific updates to the use and application of direct travel payments.
• Specific updates to travel arrangements to Alternative Education Provision settings.
• Proposals to ask for a financial contribution for post-16 pupils with SEND for travel to post-16 settings.

The consultation also explored views on discretionary elements of both policies:

• Discretionary travel at split village locations.
• Spare seat scheme.

The report pack included a summary of the consultation responses, with 649 surveys submitted. A majority of respondents supported the updates to format and language, as well as the updates to direct travel payments and alternative education provision wording. However, a significant 60% of respondents disagreed with the proposal to introduce a contribution charge for post-16 pupils with SEND, primarily due to concerns about affordability and the potential barrier to education.

The committee was also scheduled to discuss the potential impact of reducing or withdrawing discretionary travel support for families living in 'split villages' and the spare seat scheme.

The report pack included a benchmarking analysis of other local authorities' post-16 travel policies, revealing that a majority of county councils reviewed require a contribution to be paid for travel arrangements.

Education Act 1996 (Section 19) - Response to Local Government Ombudsman's Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss a response to a directive from the Local Government Ombudsman, which required the council to review cases where it had failed to meet its duty to provide alternative education to children out of school. The Ombudsman had requested a review of 13 cases in the past two years where the council was found at fault regarding its Section 19 duty¹ to provide alternative education to a child out of school.

The report pack included an action plan to address the issues identified in the Ombudsman's report, including securing additional capacity with a Section 19 officer, drafting a revised Medical Needs Policy and Pathway of Action, and training staff.

The committee was asked to consider the report, raise any questions, and agree on any recommendations to be made to the Cabinet.

Draft EOTAS Policy

The committee was scheduled to review a draft Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) policy and a draft parents' guide. The policy aims to provide a structured framework for delivering personalised educational plans tailored to the unique needs of each child or young person who cannot attend traditional school settings.

The report pack noted a 64% increase in children and young people receiving EOTAS from 2022-23 to 2023-24, highlighting the need for a formalised approach. The policy is shaped by several acts, including the Children and Families Act 2014, the Education Act 1996, and the Equality Act 2010.

The committee was asked to consider the draft policy and provide comments in readiness for presentation at Cabinet, and to request an annual review of the policy to be presented to the committee in April 2026.

Woodeaton Manor School Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the situation at Woodeaton Manor School, a foundation special school. The report covered the period from Autumn 2023 to 30 May 2025, highlighting significant concerns about leadership, management, safeguarding, and building conditions that led to the resignation of the school's governing body and headteacher.

Following an Ofsted inspection in October and November 2023, the school received an 'inadequate' rating, leading to a forced academisation process. An Interim Executive Board (IEB) was established, and an interim headteacher was appointed. The report pack noted challenges around the ownership of land and assets, as well as complications surrounding funding for Woodeaton.

The committee was asked to note progress on resolving the outstanding issues at Woodeaton Manor School.

Other Business

The committee was also scheduled to:

• Approve the minutes of the meetings held on 28th March 2025 and 20th May 2025.
• Review and agree on its work programme for forthcoming meetings.
• Note the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings.
• Consider responses to scrutiny recommendations.
• Note the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings, having raised any questions on the contents.
• Note the attached draft response to the Committee's recommendations at its meeting on 17th June 2025.