Council spending on school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has almost doubled in the last five years, reaching £1.4bn across local authorities in England in 2023-24. This significant increase, up 95% from £728m in 2018-19, is primarily due to rising demand and complex cases. While the government is investing £2.6bn in special school places to reduce long-distance travel, concerns over sustainability persist. Council leaders warn that overspends in this area could result in cuts to other services. Suggestions such as means-testing and parental contributions have been proposed to address the issue. However, parents emphasize the importance of school transport for children like Shakeerah, who rely on it for essential education access. Challenges persist in navigating support entitlements, with disparities between entitlements and local authority provisions. Labour and Liberal Democrats criticize the government’s failure to address the growing needs of SEND children adequately. The Department for Education asserts its commitment to providing high-quality education for all children, including those with special needs, through the creation of additional special and alternative provision school places.
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