Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 48
48
Not Addressed
Mandate local authorities to provide travel training for 16-19 year olds with SEND.
Recommendation
The Department should review home to school transport and identify costs across regions. Additionally, the Department must mandate that all local authorities provide travel training programmes for young people with SEND in this age group to promote independence and safe travel where this is appropriate. Statutory transport provision should be guaranteed based on clear criteria such as distance from education settings, level of need, and other relevant factors to ensure no young person is unfairly disadvantaged. We welcome the acknowledgement in the Government’s fair funding review of the need for comprehensive costings for current and future home to school transport need. The Department for Education must work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport as they prepare to introduce a bespoke formula to recognise Home to School transport costs. As part of this collaboration, the Department should ensure that there is transparency around how 165 outcomes are measured and reported. We support the recommendation of the Transport Select Committee with regard to the provision of bus passes for under 22-year-olds. (Recommendation, Paragraph 195) Equipping the workforce
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the report and highlights its commitment to reforming the SEND system to deliver excellent, inclusive education, but does not address the specifics of reviewing or mandating home to school transport.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Government is grateful to the Education Select Committee for its inquiry report into Solving the SEND Crisis and we welcome the opportunity to respond to the Committee. Every child should have a childhood rich in opportunity and with high quality education and care from their early years through to post-16. Every young person’s experience of education should be academically stretching, where every child feels like they belong, and that sets them up for life and work. The Committee’s report rightly highlights the deep-rooted issues which have plagued the SEND system for too long and has resulted in poor experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. As part of our Plan for Change, we are committed to reforming the SEND system to deliver an excellent, inclusive education for every child and young person with a world class curriculum and highly trained, expert staff at every phase of learning. The Government is already taking action to make sure that evidence-based support is available as routine, without a fight, for every child and young person who needs it - from significant investment in school places for children with SEND, to improved teacher training, to our Best Start Family Hubs in every local area.