SEND home to school transport consultation begins
Views are being sought on proposals to change school transport funding for young people aged between 16 and 18 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Published: Monday, 6th January 2025
Swindon Borough Council currently spends around £3.4m a year on the transport costs of around 900 young people with SEND.
The Council is not required to provide transport for young people aged 16 to 18 years old, and receives no funding from the Government to do so. Currently, 161 students over the age of 16 receive the free service, at a cost to the Council of £726,000.
With the Council currently forecasting an £18.9m gap in its budget for the next financial year, all non-statutory services provided by the local authority are being reviewed in order to identify potential savings.
As part of the consultation, which starts today (6 Jan) and runs until 30 March, children, young people and families, professionals and members of the wider community are being asked to share their views on the Council moving to a model where those aged 16 to 18 who wish to use the transport will have to pay for it, rather than receiving it for free as they currently do.
This includes providing mini buses, paying for taxis or supporting a Personal Travel Budget, where funding is provided to allow service users and their families to make alternative travel arrangements.
Views are also being sought on whether the Council should deduct costs from Personal Travel Budgets for missed school days where the children could have attended school but did not. This charge would not apply if the child is sick and unable to attend school or college.
A variety of funding methods were discussed before the options were put forward, which are designed to make the overall service more sustainable.
Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It is incredibly important that everyone who is affected by these proposals has the opportunity to share their views.
“Parents and carers will receive a letter asking them to take part in the consultation and we have also been engaging with interested groups such as Swindon SEND Families Voice.
“I would encourage everyone who is likely to be affected by these proposals to provide their feedback so they can be taken on board before any final decisions are taken.”
The Council has contacted the parents, carers and guardians of those who have applied for home to school travel support directly for feedback on the consultation. However, everyone is welcome to respond to the consultation.