The key strategies for how councils can meet the challenge of improving home to school transport have been outlined.
Thanks to a new report from the County Councils Network, the scale of the financial challenges that councils face when it comes to home to education transport budgets has been identified, whilst also discussing the need for a system-wide approach.
According to the CCN, the growth in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans for SEND students, as well as an increase in more expensive travel has made financial challenges worse. This has led to the CCN predicting that costs for home-to-school transport are set to reach £3.6 billion per year by 2030.
With this, the government has been urged to prioritise transport reform to ensure that councils don’t have to face the unsustainable pressures that are being put on them, ahead of the wider SEND reforms in 2025. Alongside this call, the report has outlined a number of strategies that councils can adopt locally, including:
- Influencing demand – Early planning and decision-making support to make savings
- Data-driven approaches – This approach can help to tailor transport options for each child’s needs, whilst planning for more independent travel
- Maximising independence – Offering independent travel raining and personal transport budgets can reduce reliance on council transport
Chief Executive of the County Councils Network, Simon Edwards, 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.”
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