Pressures on councils' home-to-school transport budgets

Last Thursday (21st November 2024), IMPOWER and County Councils Network (CCN) came out with a new report which highlighted the financial pressures on local authorities’ home-to-school transport budgets, and set out potential resolutions to help local areas deal with the challenge.

In their report, 'The Travel to School Challenge', the CCN Dialogues spotlight the need for a holistic, system-wide approach to address escalating costs of getting children to school. The growth in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as the impact of the rising cost of living in the UK, have exacerbated the issue.

The report details that since 2014, the number of EHCPs has increased by 140 per cent, with average costs per SEND pupil rising from £6,280 to £8,299. A rise in demand has caused huge increases in costs of getting to school over the past decade, with CCN estimating that project costs will reach £3.6 billion per year by 2030 for English councils.

The CCN is urging the government to prioritise transport reform to relieve the burden from local councils, with minister promising reforms to the wider SEND system next year. 

To address these challenges ahead of reform, the report suggests several key strategies for councils to adopt locally, starting with influencing demand. The Cornwall County Council’s “trajectory model” identified £1.4 million in potential savings through better parental communication and increased uptake of personal transport budgets, highlighting the merits of early planning and decision-making support.

Other strategies include using data-drive approaches, allowing councils to tailor transport options to individual children’s needs, and maximising independence by promoting personal transport budgets. For example, councils like Sheffield City Council are able to save £86,000 this academic year by reducing reliance on council transport.

Simon Edwards, chief executive of the CCN, said: “This report shines a light on the scale of the challenge councils are facing. With costs and demands at record highs, local authorities face intense pressures that are worsening each year.

“Whilst the national commitment to reforming the SEND system is welcome, this report highlights the important role for local authorities to play in sharing best practices. By proactively addressing these issues now, councils can help to the foundations of a sustainable home-to-school transport provision ahead of wider reforms that not only save costs but also improve quality and independence for young people.”