Equality impact assessment – Record for School Transport Guidance

The Scope of the EQIA

The Equality Impact Assessment considered all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and the three needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty: eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering good relations. The assessment focused on potential impacts for children and young people who use home-to-school transport services provided by local authorities, with particular attention to disability and age, as these groups are most likely to experience differential impacts.

The approach included a framing exercise to identify key areas of impact and evidence gaps. This highlighted that eligibility criteria for free home-to-school transport are well established in legislation but can vary in interpretation, potentially affecting consistency and equity of access. It also noted that children with additional support needs or medical conditions are likely to be disproportionately affected by transport decisions, making inclusive provision essential. Budgetary pressures and infrastructure limitations were identified as factors that could influence implementation.

Evidence gathering drew on national datasets such as the Scottish Household Survey and Disability and Transport report, as well as summary school statistics. These sources provided information on travel patterns and the prevalence of disability among pupils, but data gaps remain for characteristics such as sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender reassignment, as these are not collected in relation to school transport use. Stakeholder engagement was undertaken with local authority representatives and parent bodies during the review process to inform revisions to the guidance.

The EQIA therefore applied a qualitative and quantitative approach, combining statistical analysis with consultation feedback, to assess impacts and identify opportunities to promote equality.