Councils paying school transport costs for 470,000 pupils in England
Summary
Local councils in England are paying for school transport for approximately 470,000 pupils under 16. This includes transport for students with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). The rising costs are a concern for councils, with financial sustainability being a major issue.Key Facts
- Around 470,000 pupils under 16 use school transport funded by councils in England.
- This number represents 6% of all pupils in that age group in England.
- 40% of these pupils qualify for transport due to special educational needs and disabilities (Send).
- Local councils say the cost of providing this transport is becoming difficult to manage financially.
- The Department for Education's data is based on voluntary reports from about 75% of local councils.
- 60% of pupils using funded transport do so mainly due to the distance from school.
- Councils spent £1.5 billion on transport for pupils with Send in the last financial year.
- There is a call for reform of the special educational needs system, but changes have been delayed.
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