SCHOOL transport in Cumbria has got a thumbs up from parents and pupils. Every school day, approximately 15,000 young people have transport arranged for them by Cumbria County Council. The results of a new survey show increased satisfaction with the standard of school transport.

The 2004 Cumbria County Council School Transport Survey asked parents of children who use both the mainstream and special educational needs school transport service to rate it in a number of key areas. Over 1,000 parents took time out to complete and return the questionnaires.

The survey showed that over the last two years overall satisfaction with the service has increased ten per cent to an impressive 87 per cent. Children too are happier with the service - 82 per cent in 2004 compared to 73 per cent in 2002.