Today IMPOWER and the County Councils Network have released a new report which spotlights the financial pressures local authorities’ home to school transport budgets and sets out key strategies for local areas to adopt to help meet the challenge.
The CCN Dialogues report The Travel to School Challenge underlines the critical need for a holistic, system-wide approach in order to address escalating home to school transport costs. The growth in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for SEND students, coupled with an increase in more costly travel such as individual taxis and passenger assistants, has intensified the challenge.
Since 2014, the number of EHCPs has surged by 140%, with average costs per SEND pupil rising 32% from £6,280 to £8,299. This rise in demand has led to a dramatic increase in home to school transport costs over the past decade, and CCN figures project costs to reach £3.6bn per year by 2030 for councils across England. Findings indicate that CCN members bear 57% of total home-to- school transport costs across the country, despite serving only 42% of England’s school-age population.
The CCN is calling on the government to prioritise transport reform to relieve local councils of unsustainable financial pressures, with minister promising reforms to the wider SEND system next year.
To address these challenges ahead of any substantive reform, the report outlines several key strategies for councils to adopt locally:
- Influencing demand: The report highlights the merits of early planning and decision- making support, using tools like Cornwall County Council’s “trajectory model,” which identified £1.4 million in potential savings through improved parental communication and increased uptake of personal transport budgets.
- Data-driven approaches: New, data-driven approaches, can help councils tailor transport options to each child’s needs while planning for transitions to more independent travel.
- Maximising independence: By offering independent travel training and promoting personal transport budgets, councils like Sheffield City Council are actively reducing reliance on council transport, realising immediate savings of £86,000 this academic year.
This report highlights the combined importance of efficient service planning at the local level, alongside the need for increased government investment to support councils in fulfilling their educational transport obligations. Sharing best practices is therefore essential to improving service delivery across all councils.
In April 2024, the CCN, in partnership with IMPOWER, hosted a webinar with over 50 members and officers from the CCN’s membership to discuss ways to enhance home-to-school transport services. The session, which included officers from both People and Place directorates, featured two councils sharing their own reform experiences and invited open discussion on local challenges and support needs. This report compiles the insights and practical strategies shared, underscoring the value of collaboration and innovative approaches in meeting rising demands.
Sean Hanson, Chief Executive of IMPOWER Consulting, said:
“Home-to-school transport is a critical service for families, yet the financial burden on councils is unsustainable and growing faster than many other local services. We can’t afford to simply patch the system; we need a fundamental shift in how we approach SEND transport, prioritising innovative, data-driven solutions that empower councils to manage demand and improve efficiency.”
Simon Edwards, CCN Chief Executive of the CCN, added:
“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.”
