SEND & SCHOOL TRANSPORT
ENGLISH COUNCILS NEED FOR INCREASED FUNDING AMID SOARING SEND TRANSPORT COSTS
English councils are facing a severe financial strain due to the escalating costs of transporting SEND children, with many warning the current system is “financially unsustainable.” The rapid increase in pupil transport expenses is placing immense pressure on local budgets, with some councils spending more on SEND transport than on road maintenance. An investigation by The Guardian revealed that of 43
councils
surveyed, all but eight spent more on SEND pupil transport than their revenue roads budget. One extreme example: Wakefield, spends seven times more on SEND
transport than road maintenance, and last year Norfolk spent over £40m on SEND pupil transport. The surge in costs is attributed to several factors, including a 25% increase in the number of children requiring transport since 2019, with 31,000 now travelling by taxi. Councils are legally obligated to provide transport for SEND pupils living beyond a set distance from suitable schools. Additionally, the increasing number of parents securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has contrib- uted to the financial burden. Furthermore, school reforms introduced in 2014, which prioritise exam results, have
reportedly
made mainstream schools less inclusive, leading to more pupils requiring specialised transport. The Department for Education (DfE) acknowledged the system’s shortcomings, stating: “The SEND system we’ve inherited has been failing children and families for far too long, with a lack of support in mainstream schools and an unsustainable strain on local government finances.” The DfE cited £740m in capital funding aimed at improving inclusivity in mainstream schools and promised further reforms. However, councils maintain that substantial additional funding is essential to address the crisis.
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL’S SCHOOL-ONLY LICENCE PLAN RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS
Wiltshire Council is exploring school-only taxi licences to address a surge in demand for SEND trans- port in the county, but officials warn the plan is fraught with risks. Around 1,800 SEND students require daily transportation. Facing an 11% annual increase in SEND transport needs, the council is considering the model which is used by 30 other authorities. However, the taxi licensing team has raised serious concerns about enforceability and potential abuse. A report presented to the licensing committee on 17 March, stated: “Taxi licensing is concerned that a school only licence would be open to abuse and could be seen as a shortcut to a full PH licence.” With only 854 licensed vehicles
12
and 730 SEND contracts, the council acknowledges a significant strain on its resources. “It’s clear vehicle and driver capacity cannot be met from taxis licensed in Wiltshire alone,” the report stated. “This can lead to issues with a lack of provision in our towns at certain times of the day and the team has received feedback from the public to this effect.” The core
issue, according to
officials, lies in enforcement. “It would be very difficult to ensure school only licensed drivers did not undertake standard private hire work,” the report explained. With only two enforcement officers covering the entire county, the team argues that they “could not effectively enforce a school
only licence regime.” While a reduced licence fee could be offered, the report clarifies that “the applicant would still have to undergo all the same tests and licensing requirements.” Although it is acknowledged that some drivers with no interest of working outside the school shifts would see the appeal of a school only licence, the taxi licensing team concluded that they did not see the overall benefit in it. To determine the viability of the plan, the council has proposed a consultation with taxi operators and school transport providers to establish if there’s sufficient interest and to understand the underlying causes of the driver shortage.
APRIL 2025 PHTM
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