Equality impact assessment – Record for School Transport Guidance

Background

The School Transport Guidance provides advice to local authorities on how they can meet their statutory obligations in relation to pupils’ journeys between home and school. It aims to ensure that education authorities have a clear understanding of their duties under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, with a focus on pupil safety and the implications of wider legislation, including the Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Act 2017, the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004, and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The purpose of the guidance is to promote safe, inclusive, and sustainable transport arrangements that support all pupils, particularly those with protected characteristics, to access education equitably. It encourages local authorities to take a flexible and rights-based approach to transport provision, ensuring decisions reflect the best interests of the child and uphold principles of non-discrimination and inclusion.

Scottish Ministers announced a review of the School Transport Guidance in November 2024 to ensure it reflected the introduction of the Young Persons Free Bus Travel Scheme and provided clarity on assessing the safety of walking routes. During 2025, the guidance was reviewed and updated in consultation with stakeholders, including local authority representative bodies and parent groups. Key revisions include clearer wording on consultation duties for denominational school transport, enhanced safeguarding advice, updated information on additional support needs, and references to equality and inclusion.

The guidance will affect children and young people who use home-to-school transport provided by local authorities, particularly those with additional support needs, disabilities, or health conditions. It will also impact families and carers by reducing logistical and financial pressures, local authorities by supporting consistent interpretation of statutory duties, and transport providers through changes in procurement and safeguarding expectations. Indirectly, the policy benefits communities by promoting inclusion and contributing to environmental goals through low-emission vehicles.