Councils across England are urgently requesting additional funding to manage rising transport costs for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Many local authorities have expressed that their financial obligations under the SEND system have become increasingly unmanageable, a situation exacerbated by a significant rise in pupil transport expenses.

Councils and educational sources indicate that the necessity of transporting these children is essential.

However, the existing SEND framework, established approximately a decade ago, has expanded beyond its original intent, leading to growing fiscal pressures on local governments.

As a result, some councils are now allocating as much funding to transport SEND pupils as they do to essential road maintenance.

Under legal requirements, councils are obligated to provide transport for SEND students if they reside beyond a defined distance from their nearest appropriate school.

A majority of these students travel by taxi rather than by bus due to a lack of accessible alternatives.

Since 2019, the number of children utilizing this transport has surged by 25%, with approximately 31,000 children currently relying on taxi services, as reported by the County Councils Network.

These escalating costs create considerable financial burdens, particularly for councils in larger, more geographically dispersed areas.

In response to this crisis, the government aims to implement measures intended to increase the inclusion of SEND pupils in local schools, which may, in turn, alleviate transport expenses.

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) has introduced a new grading system that factors in school inclusivity.

Despite these efforts, many councils contend that the wider SEND framework remains disordered, prompting frequent inquiries from Members of Parliament regarding the issue.

Local officials argue that additional resources will be necessary to effectively address the challenges presented by the system.

A source from one council emphasized that funding must accompany mandates for mainstream schools regarding SEND pupils' needs, which necessitate both financial support and a qualified workforce.

Another council representative noted a shift in government attitude post-election, indicating a recognition of the seriousness of the problem by the Department for Education.

However, concerns persist that the issue may be relegated to a 'too difficult' pile without substantive resolution.

Of the 43 councils that responded to inquiries, all but eight reported spending more on SEND pupil transport than on their road maintenance budgets.

On average, the expenditure on transport was more than double that of road maintenance, with some councils reporting ratios as high as seven times for SEND transport compared to road upkeep.

For instance, Norfolk allocated over £40 million for SEND pupil transport in the previous financial year.

The rapid increase in these costs has been partially attributed to a rise in the number of parents securing education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which afford additional support and, in some circumstances, access to non-mainstream education.

A council source noted that while EHCPs were intended to streamline the process, they have instead intensified competition for limited resources between parents and councils.

Additionally, reforms initiated by former Education Secretary Michael Gove in 2014 have shaped the landscape of education by prioritizing school performance metrics, inadvertently diminishing the focus on inclusivity.

In response to these challenges, a Department for Education spokesperson remarked that the commission’s system has historically failed to meet the essential needs of children and families, contributing to unsustainable pressures on local government finances.

The government has pledged £740 million in capital funding this year aimed at enhancing inclusivity within mainstream schools and has indicated that more significant reforms will be forthcoming.