21st February 2026

Agenda Item 9 — SEND Transport Policy Changes & Post-16 Transport

Purpose:
This item sets out proposed changes to how the council provides transport for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It also covers post-16 students (16–19) eligible for support.

It is directly linked to the financial pressures highlighted in Items 7 and 8 — SEND transport is one of the fastest-growing costs for the council.

What the council is proposing

1) Eligibility review

  • Tighten rules on who qualifies for council-funded transport.
  • Focus support on students with the highest needs.
  • Encourage independent travel where safe and appropriate.

2) Post-16 arrangements

  • Introduce a new framework for students aged 16–19 from Sept 2026.
  • Could include:
    • Limited council-funded travel
    • Financial support or travel passes rather than door-to-door taxis
    • Encouragement to use public transport where feasible

3) Contract and procurement changes

  • Renegotiate current transport contracts.
  • Introduce new framework agreements to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
  • Aim to save money while maintaining legal obligations.

Why this matters

  1. Financial impact
  • SEND transport is a large, growing expenditure.
  • The council must manage costs to balance the overall budget.
  • Savings here feed directly into the Medium-Term Financial Plan (Item 8).
  1. Impact on families
  • Affected families may have to arrange travel themselves in some cases.
  • Parents and carers may face additional planning or costs.
  • Students may need to learn independent travel skills earlier.
  1. Legal obligations
  • The council still has a duty to ensure eligible students can access education.
  • Changes are designed to meet the duty without overspending.

Likely public reaction

  • High sensitivity: Families directly affected often respond strongly.
  • Changes may generate complaints, petitions, or local media coverage.
  • This is the kind of budget change that is politically visible, even if the savings are technically moderate compared to other council costs.

Bottom line

Agenda Item 9 is about controlling one of the fastest-growing cost areas in the council’s budget (SEND transport) while still meeting legal duties.

Residents may see the most direct impact here in terms of travel arrangements for children and young people with SEND.