SEND Transport Reform: A Critical Piece of the Puzzle

The cost of transporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to school has become one of the most pressing financial challenges facing local authorities in England. The National Audit Office (NAO) has recently highlighted the scale of the issue, warning that without urgent reform, the system risks becoming unsustainable. This is not just a budgetary concern it is a matter of equity, inclusion, and access to education. SEND transport is a lifeline for thousands of families. It enables children with complex needs to attend school safely, consistently, and with dignity. Yet the current model is under immense strain. Rising demand, limited local provision, and escalating costs have created a perfect storm. Councils are being forced to make difficult decisions, often balancing statutory obligations against shrinking budgets and growing expectations.

This blog explores the NAO’s findings, the drivers behind the £2.3 billion annual spend, and what must change to ensure SEND transport is fit for purpose. It draws on real-life case studies, expert commentary, and sector-wide recommendations to make the case for reform that is bold, compassionate, and grounded in lived experience.

Why Are Costs Rising?

The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has surged from 240,000 in 2015 to 639,000 in 2025 a 166% increase. This growth, while reflective of better identification and support, has placed immense pressure on local services. Many councils lack sufficient capacity in local special schools, forcing them to fund out-of-area placements that require costly transport solutions.

Increased demand is not the only factor. The complexity of individual needs often requires tailored transport arrangements, such as solo taxi journeys or specialist vehicles with escorts, which significantly drive up costs. Additionally, the legal obligation to provide transport for eligible SEND pupils means councils cannot easily reduce provision, even when budgets are tight.

Compounding the issue are:

• Provider shortages post-COVID, including driver availability and rising fuel and wage costs.

• Rural transport challenges, where public transport options are limited and distances are greater.

• Cuts to discretionary transport, affecting sixth formers and those not attending their nearest suitable school.

• Fragmented commissioning, where lack of coordination between education and transport teams leads to inefficiencies.

• Inflationary pressures, which have increased contract costs across the board.

Data from the Wiltshire Council licensing committee meeting's agenda. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Case Studies and Family Voices

• In Surrey, the council pays for a daily taxi for 11-year-old Shakeerah, who is deaf and travels an hour each way to a mainstream school that teaches British Sign Language. Her parents work full-time and cannot manage the journey themselves. "If Shakeerah didn’t have the transport, she wouldn’t go to school," her mother said.

• Buckinghamshire Council reported spending £952 per day for two medically complex pupils to travel by ambulance with a nurse.

• In Lincolnshire, a single pupil’s transport costs £650 for three trips per week, highlighting the impact of individualised arrangements.

• The County Councils Network found that county and rural councils now transport double the number of SEND pupils compared to urban areas, with average costs per pupil rising from £6,792 in 2018/19 to £9,750 in 2023/24.

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  Image: Getty

• Zoe Green from Leicestershire said:

"I thought there is absolutely no way that I am putting my vulnerable child in a taxi with complete strangers." She ended up driving her son Joshua three hours a day until his original driver was reinstated.

• Sandy Scott shared:

"He was expecting to be in a taxi. We prepared him for that taxi for months. But the council hadn’t allocated one, so I had to take him myself."

• Ailith Harley-Roberts, whose daughter Thalia has Down syndrome, said:

"No parent wants their child in a car, bus or taxi for hours. They just want their child to have the education they have a right to and deserve."

What Needs to Change

Local government leaders and SEND professionals are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of how SEND transport is planned, funded, and delivered. The following areas require urgent attention:

• Integrated planning: Education, transport, and commissioning teams must work together from the outset to design services that meet pupil needs efficiently. This includes joint forecasting of demand, shared data systems, and co-developed strategies.

• Investment in local provision: Councils need capital funding to expand local special school capacity, reducing the need for long-distance travel.

• Smarter procurement and route optimisation: Authorities should adopt dynamic routing software, pooled contracts, and regional frameworks to reduce duplication and improve value for money.

• National guidance and funding reform: The Department for Education must provide clearer statutory guidance on discretionary transport and ensure funding formulas reflect the true cost of SEND transport.

• Workforce development: Investment in the transport workforce including training for drivers and escorts in SEND awareness is essential.

• Innovation and pilot programmes: Councils should be supported to trial new models, such as travel training for older pupils, community transport partnerships, and personal transport budgets.

• Family engagement: Parents and carers must be involved in shaping transport policies and decisions.

• Monitoring and accountability: A national dashboard of SEND transport metrics could help track performance and highlight best practice.

Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned:

"We have to put the needs of these youngsters first and ensure that the SEND system and associated costs are sufficiently funded both now and in the future."

Conclusion

SEND transport is not a peripheral issue it is central to the success of the SEND system. As the Department for Education finalises its reform agenda, it must heed the NAO’s findings and ensure that transport is not left behind. For councils, families, and children alike, sustainable and inclusive transport solutions are essential to delivering the promise of SEND reform. The case studies from Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and others show that behind every statistic is a child whose access to education depends on reliable, specialist transport. These stories highlight the human cost of underfunded systems and the moral imperative to act. Reform must go beyond policy statements it must deliver practical, funded solutions that reflect the lived realities of families and the operational challenges faced by councils. Local authorities cannot tackle this alone. National leadership, cross-departmental collaboration, and long-term investment are needed to build a transport system that is fair, efficient, and resilient. Only then can we ensure that every child, regardless of need or postcode, can get to school safely and with dignity.