Posted on the 12th March 2025 in PHTM News

ENGLISH COUNCILS PLEAD FOR INCREASED FUNDING AMID SOARING SEND TRANSPORT COSTS

English councils are facing a severe financial strain due to the escalating costs of transporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with many warning the current system is "financially unsustainable."

The rapid increase in pupil transport expenses, particularly for taxi services, 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. "The only way to deal with this is to put money into mainstream schools along with very clear accountability about what they should provide for Send pupils," a council source stated, highlighting the need for increased resources and workforce support.

One extreme example is Wakefield, which spends seven times more on SEND transport than road maintenance, and Norfolk spent over £40 million on SEND pupil transport last year.

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 contributed to the financial burden.

"EHCPs were meant to make the system less adversarial but it’s done the opposite," a council source said, noting the "tension between parents and carers acting perfectly rationally versus councils with a very finite pot of resources."

Furthermore, school reforms introduced by former Education Secretary Michael Gove in 2014, which prioritise exam results, have reportedly made mainstream schools less inclusive, leading to more pupils requiring specialised transport.

"There has been a change. Before the election there was a lot of buck-passing, and now the Department for Education is treating it seriously. But there is always a risk it ends up in the ‘too difficult’ pile," another council source expressed.

The Department for Education (DfE) acknowledged the system's shortcomings, stating: "The Send system we’ve inherited has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long, with a lack of early intervention and support in mainstream schools and unsustainable strain on local government finances."

The DfE cited £740 million 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.

 


Read another story

    read newspaper
    read newspaper
    read newspaper

    Follow PHTM
    LinkedIn

    phtm whatsapp channel

    PHTM Trade Index

      • Razon
      • hollogram
      • patons insurance
      • Autocab
      • taxi insurer
      • insure taxi
      • Birkdale Insurance Group
      • iCabbi
      • The Taxi Centre
      • Cab Direct
      • Taxi CCTV
      • Acorn Taxi Insurance
      • Patterson Law
      • EaziTax