Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Accepted
Home-to-school transport affordability remains a concern for local government services
Conclusion
Home-to-school transport is a particular area of concern for the affordability of local government services. We support the Government’s proposed update to the assessment of local authority’s needs relating to home-to-school transport, but while this more fairly distributes money between local authorities, it does not make the service as a whole more affordable. Reforms to the service itself will also be necessary. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the rising costs of home-to-school transport are linked to the SEND system and commits to improving inclusivity in mainstream schools through significant new SEND funding, a forthcoming White Paper, and £740 million in high needs capital.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government’s home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. We know the cost of arranging home-to-school travel for eligible children has risen sharply in recent years, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). There are several reasons for this, including fuel price inflation and shortages of drivers and passenger assistants – but most of the increase can be attributed to challenges in the wider SEND system. Making sure more children can receive the support they need locally, by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, will mean fewer children will need to rely on long and complex journeys to access educational opportunity, leaving local authorities better able to meet the needs of those that continue to need transport. Improving the SEND system is a priority for this Government. The Spending Review announcement in June confirmed significant new funding to support SEND reform and a White Paper with further detail will be published in the coming months. The Department for Education have also published allocations for £740 million in high needs capital in 2025–26 to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision (AP). This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND and create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, alongside continuing to provide places to support pupils in special schools with the most complex needs. This will ensure children can receive the support they need locally, meaning fewer children will need to rely on long and complex journeys.