Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to specialist SEND schools and colleges on (a) powers and responsibilities to manage traffic on public highways during pupil drop-off and collection times and (b) coordinating with local authorities to manage congestion caused by school transport vehicles.

Local authorities are responsible for managing traffic on their roads, including around schools and colleges, as they are best placed to determine appropriate measures for their local area.

The Department for Transport and Active Travel England have published guidance to support local authorities in setting up and managing school streets, including measures to manage traffic at school drop-off and collection times. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-streets-how-to-set-up-and-manage-a-scheme.

Local authorities must publish a sustainable modes of travel strategy which aims to provide health benefits for children and their families through active journeys and environmental improvements through reduced congestion and improved air quality. The department’s statutory guidance for local authorities can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel.