Rising costs and funding cuts affecting school travel

^{Image: St Marys School Cambridge}

Nearly a third of parents say that their child’s school travel has been impacted by funding cuts, according to new research.
 
The nationally representative survey of 1,000 parents with school age children, commissioned by transport specialist Kura, found that 22% of children now have to use an alternative transport method due to transport funding cuts, adding to concerns about safeguarding on the school run.
 
Parents in Greater London and the West Midlands appear to have been most affected by this, with 45% of respondents in Greater London and 28% in the West Midlands having to find alternative means for their children to get to and from school.
 
A further 10% of parents say that their child’s school journey now takes longer as a result of funding cuts, a scenario which again appeared to be more likely for school children in Greater London (17%), followed by those in the North West (14%). With 44% of parents concerned about the unreliable nature of public transport, being able to keep track of where children are on their school journey is even more important.
 
Funding cuts aren’t the only factor impacting school travel, with the cost-of-living crisis also forcing parents to review options for the school run. Of the parents surveyed, almost a fifth (19%) said that they can no longer afford to drive their child to school, so they now take public or school transport.
 
In addition, 18% of parents said that rising costs mean their child must now walk or cycle to school as they are unable to afford public or school transport. This poses a potential safeguarding risk for children living further away from their school, especially the 31% travelling between 1-2 miles each way and 24% travelling between 2-5 miles.
 
In a blow to sustainability goals, nearly one in ten (9%) parents now have to drive their children to school as a result of funding cuts, increasing the number of low occupancy cars contributing to dangerous congestion and pollution levels around the school gates.
 
Nearly half (49%) of parents are worried about their child’s safety on the journey to and from school, with almost three-quarters (71%) expressing concern about the level of traffic and busy roads. With more children walking or cycling to school, and extra cars adding to congestion, these concerns will likely be felt by even more parents.
 
Commenting on the findings, Godfrey Ryan, CEO of Kura, said: “Rising costs coupled with funding cuts have forced many parents to rethink the school run. Whilst for some, this means they are using more sustainable transport methods, such as walking or the school bus, the changes mean many are facing new or increased safeguarding concerns.
 
“Unreliable school transport can impact student productivity and wellbeing, as well as cause concern for parents unable to keep track of where their children are on the school journey. Almost a fifth (19%) of parents rely on the school informing them if their child hasn’t arrived and nearly one in ten (9%) said they have no means of knowing where their child is on the school run.  
 
“As a result of safeguarding concerns on the school run, which are only amplified by funding cuts, Kura is now offering its transport safeguarding software free to all schools, forever. We recognise that budget cuts are taking their toll across the board so removing the cost barrier will provide all schools with an easily accessible safeguarding solution."