Response to Hastings MP's claims over home to school transport
Dear Helena,
Thank you for your letter dated 7 September raising concerns from your constituents about home to school transport. Cllr Woolley has asked me to respond on his behalf.
Firstly I can reassure you there has been no change to the Council’s policies for home to school transport. The Council has a clear process for assessing eligibility for transport and the safety and suitability of transport journeys is considered carefully when arranging routes. The Council works closely with all schools to ensure that transport arrangements for eligible children align with the timings of the school day.
Your letter may be referring to the transport arrangements for children at the alternative provision academy in East Sussex, which has three sites across East Sussex. The transport team have been working with this provider to arrange transport for children and to understand the timings of the school day. There have been some delays in information being shared about the timings of the school day and this may have caused a delay in transport arrangements being confirmed for a small number of children.
The Council’s priority is for children to attend education provision full-time as this is in the best interests for the majority of children. The Council recognises that it can be appropriate for some children to be on part-time timetables and we are working with the provider to ensure that these are only in place where necessary and that we have appropriate, sustainable transport solutions in place for these children. The safety of children is a priority and we work closely with the provider and colleagues across children's social care to ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place.
It appears however that you may have been misinformed about some of the details of transport arrangements for children at this provider. I can confirm that no primary age children have been offered a bus route. All primary age children have transport provided either through a shared or solo taxi route or through a personal travel budget in line with our policies. Secondary age children who are eligible for transport will have been offered a bus pass where a suitable route has been identified or will have been offered a taxi route or personal travel budget, in line with our policies.
Families that have any questions about their eligibility for transport or the transport provision that is being offered should contact
Mainstream-transport.cts@eastsussex.gov.uk this is the quickest way for any issues to be resolved.
In matters relating to CSD, it is advisable to send directly to me, particularly if you have concerns relating to safeguarding as I am then able to deal with matters swiftly. Sending elsewhere simply builds in delay before it finds its way to me.
Yours sincerely
Carolyn Fair, Director of Children's Services
Karen Bowles
Friday, 11 September 2026