Memorandum submitted by the Royal National
Institute of the Blind (ST 6)
INTRODUCTION:
RNIB welcomes the decision of the Education
and Skills Committee to conduct pre legislative scrutiny of the
Draft School Transport Bill.
Transport has for a long time been a major obstacle
for blind and partially sighted children trying to access educational
provision. Research undertaken by MORI on behalf of the Disabled
Persons Transport Advisory Committee (the official Government
Advisory body on transport issues) showed that transport is the
most important issue for disabled people trying to go about their
daily lives in their local communities. Pavement and road maintenance
are of particular concern. This research is backed up by RNIB's
Shaping the Future Report, which showed that nine in ten primary-aged
children and over eight in ten of those of secondary school encountered
difficulties when out and about. The street environment causes
problems for nine in ten primary and seven in ten secondary school
children and young people. Lack of self-confidence in travelling
was an issue for six in ten primary and over one in three secondary
school pupils. Despite these statistics fewer than three in ten
pupils in mainstream schools had been given mobility and independence
education.
The proposed school transport pilots outlined
above could provide some invaluable opportunities to address the
issues outline above but must not be used as an opportunity to
start charging children for transport which is essential for them
to undergo their education.
Our paragraph numbers refer to the paragraphs
in the prospectus issued by the Department for education and Skill
to accompany the Draft Bill.
ISSUES RAISED
BY THE
PROPOSALS:
Forward
We welcome the encouragement for closer working
between health, education, social services and local transport
provision. The Association of London Government set up the Commission
on Accessible Transport. which recently reported on a series of
pilots designed to test the benefits of more co-ordinated use
of door to door transport in London. We believe that the lessons
learnt from this report should be examined to see how they might
apply to educational transport throughout the United Kingdom.
Paragraph 3
RNIB welcomes the expectation that LEAs applying
to run school travel must consider the needs of all pupils. We
believe that this must include the very important issues affecting
blind and partially sighted children highlighted in the introduction.
Paragraph 5
We welcome the requirement to have schemes that
cover both urban and rural areas. The long distances involved
in rural areas often without adequate pavement can be very difficult
for visually impaired youngsters. The difficulties of travel to
school in rural areas are a major issue in Wales were the problem
has been exacerbated by the closure of local/community schools.
The provision of local schools were materials are provided in
accessible formats could make a very positive start in life for
a visually impaired child.
Paragraph 7
We welcome the flexibility in types of scheme
indicated in this paragraph. We hope that the pilots, which are
accepted, will include independence and mobility training for
visually impaired children.
Paragraph 8
Bearing in mind the difficulties that visually
impaired people face in safely accessing the pedestrian environment
we would particularly welcome the approval of schemes with an
enhanced focus on transport safety issues which we believe must
include pedestrian safety.
Paragraph 16
All visually impaired children have benefited
from the minimum of half price concessionary travel on buses.
Whatever charging is introduced any visually impaired child who
does not get free travel because it is specified in their statement
of special educational needs should benefit from the reductions
offered to blind and partially sighted people in the area on public
transport.
Paragraph 21
RNIB welcomes the fact that children in receipt
of free school meals will be exempt from any proposed charges
in the pilot areas. However, we also believe that the same protection
must be extended to children who have their transport needs specified
in their statement and that this must be on the face of the Bill.
These children must continue to receive free transport. Many visually
impaired children are forced to travel extra distances to the
nearest mainstream or special school that can meet their needs.
Whilst many children may receive Mobility Allowance this is necessary
to meet the costs of their transport for other activities. Those
receiving the Mobility Allowance can still receive Fares to Work
form the Access to Work Scheme and similar provision should apply
to visually impaired children attending school.
Paragraph 27
We welcome the suggestion that more children
with SEN and disabilities will travel with their peers. This will
hopefully reduce the barriers between disabled and non-disabled
children. Done well we also believe that this could introduce
the flexibility necessary to allow disabled children the chance
to stay after school and benefit from extra curricular activities.
Extra curricular activities can often help in gaining vital skills
for obtaining employment in latter life. With three-quarters of
blind and partially sighted people of working age not in employment
it is essential that they are offered the maximum chance of gaining
skills that will help them in latter life.
Paragraph 34
We welcome the requirement for evaluation and
monitoring but believe that it is essential that a specific requirement
for monitoring the affect of pilots on children with special educational
needs and disabilities is built in. This will allow the lessons
learnt to benefit blind and partially sighted children in any
schemes that continue after the end of the pilots.
April 2004
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