Home to school transport costing local authorities billions - maybe it's time for a rethink says Devon based headteacher of online school
It’s estimated that 520,000 children and young people in England get home to school transport costing local authorities £2.3 billion in 2023-24.
These figures come from a new report by the National Audit Office that shows a 70% rise since 2015-16 with councils overspending on their budgets by more than £400 million in 2023-24.
In the report the watchdog states that ‘an increase in the number of children and young people assessed as having special educational needs has significant implications for home to school transport.’
It goes on to report that the cost of moving children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) is now more than five times higher than for other pupils, averaging £8,116 per child each year compared with £1,526 for those without additional needs.
The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans has grown by 166% in a decade, placing increasing strain on council finances and on families who rely on transport to reach suitable schools.
Headteachers and campaigners say these figures show how overstretched the system has become and how far many children and young people must travel simply to access a place that can meet their needs.
Devon based Lisa Boorman, headteacher of Queen’s Online School and a former secondary head, said the data highlights the lack of suitable provision close to home. “What if we stopped moving children to schools and brought school to them?
“Behind those billions of pounds are children who spend hours each week travelling when they could be learning.
“For some pupils, particularly those with anxiety or sensory needs, the journey itself can undo the benefits of specialist support. We need flexible options that allow education to come to the child, rather than expecting the child to travel miles to reach it.”
Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said the service is “invaluable” for young people who depend on it, but warned that the current system is not sustainable.
“Local authorities are making savings to meet their statutory duties, but they are looking to the Department for Education’s upcoming SEND reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of home-to-school transport,” he said.
The NAO also found that several councils have withdrawn or restricted free or subsidised travel for children below compulsory school age or those not attending their nearest suitable school. In some cases, pupils missed classes altogether because transport was unavailable, and parents reduced their working hours or gave up employment to provide lifts themselves.
Education unions warned that the situation is becoming unsustainable. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, the school leaders’ union, said,” It is not fair or realistic for councils to keep going over budget or to restrict transport that families depend on. Doing so risks damaging attendance and pushing more families into hardship.”
The Department for Education’s SEND reforms, delayed until 2026, are expected to look at how transport fits into wider provision planning.
Ms Boorman believes that moment should be used to rethink how children access education in the first place.
“We have an opportunity to design learning around the learner,” she said. “Online and blended schools can play a role in reducing travel, cutting costs and keeping education consistent for those who need stability most.”
