Education Act 1996

[F1 508A [F2 Local authorities] in England: duty to promote sustainable modes of travel etc E+W

(1) A [F3 local authority] in England must—

(a) prepare for each academic year a document containing their strategy to promote the use of sustainable modes of travel to meet the school travel needs of their area (“a sustainable modes of travel strategy”),

(b) publish the strategy in such manner and by such time as may be prescribed, and

(c) promote the use of sustainable modes of travel to meet the school travel needs of their area.

(2) Before preparing a sustainable modes of travel strategy, an authority must in particular—

(a) assess the school travel needs of their area, and

(b) assess the facilities and services for sustainable modes of travel to, from and within their area.

(3) “Sustainable modes of travel” are modes of travel which the authority consider may improve either or both of the following—

(a) the physical well-being of those who use them;

(b) the environmental well-being of the whole or a part of their area.

(4) The “school travel needs” of a [F3 local authority]'s area are—

(a) the needs of children and persons of sixth form age in the authority's area as regards travel mentioned in subsection (5), and

(b) the needs of other children and persons of sixth form age as regards travel mentioned in subsection (6).

(5) The needs of children and persons of sixth form age in the authority's area as regards travel referred to in subsection (4)(a) are their needs as regards travel to and from—

(a) schools at which they receive or are to receive education or training,

(b) institutions within the further education sector[F4 , or 16 to 19 Academies,] at which they receive or are to receive education or training, or

(c) any other places where they receive or are to receive education by virtue of arrangements made in pursuance of section 19(1).

(6) The needs of other children and persons of sixth form age as regards travel referred to in subsection (4)(b) are their needs as regards travel to and from—

(a) schools at which they receive or are to receive education or training,

(b) institutions within the further education sector[F5 , or 16 to 19 Academies,] at which they receive or are to receive education or training, or

(c) any other places where they receive or are to receive education by virtue of arrangements made in pursuance of section 19(1),

in so far as that travel relates to travel within the authority's area.

(7) The Secretary of State must issue, and may from time to time revise, guidance in relation to the discharge by a [F3 local authority] of their duties under this section.

(8) Before issuing or revising guidance under subsection (7), the Secretary of State must consult such persons as he considers appropriate.

(9) In discharging their duties under this section an authority must—

(a) consult such persons as they consider appropriate, and

(b) have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State under subsection (7).

(10) References in this section to persons of sixth form age are to be construed in accordance with subsection (1) of section 509AC.

(11) In this section, “academic year” has the same meaning as in section 509AC in the case of [F2 local authorities] in England.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 508A inserted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 76, 188(3); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(l)

F2 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(3) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))

F3 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))

F4 Words in s. 508A(5)(b) inserted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 13 para. 9(10)(a); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2

F5 Words in s. 508A(6)(b) inserted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 13 para. 9(10)(b); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 508A-508F: power to modify conferred (temp.) (25.3.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 17 para. 5 (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision expires (9.12.2021) by virtue of The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Early Expiry) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1399), regs. 1(2), 5)