NAO transport report agrees with Contact that loophole in the law for 16 – 19 disabled learners puts them at risk of cuts
3 mins read
Friday 31 October 2025
The National Audit Office (NAO) has today published its report examining the reasons why home to school transport is one of the fastest growing areas of spending for local authorities in England.
The report, which cites Contact’s school transport research throughout, concludes that SEND reforms must address school transport pressures, prioritise families’ needs and protect school transport for those that rely on it so that all children can access education safely and fairly.
The NAO recognise that spending on home to school transport has increased significantly over the past decade, largely reflecting the growth in children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who must travel further to find suitable schools. Some councils struggling with budgets, are cutting this support post 16 – leaving disabled children and young people and their families facing impossible choices.
Commenting on the NAO’s report Contact’s campaigns lead, Una Summerson, said: “School transport isn’t a luxury for children with SEND – it’s a lifeline. For many, it’s the only way they can access education. Many can’t travel independently or safely use public transport, and many may stay in education for longer, so councils have a clear duty to provide suitable transport.
“As the NAO points out, councils are struggling to meet their legal duties while managing shrinking budgets – but it’s unfair to make disabled children and young people pay the price. Cuts to school transport is forcing parents to give up work and leaving young people unable to continue or complete their education. Post-16 school or college transport is especially at risk, thanks to a loophole in the law that leaves providing it up to the discretion of local authorities- and risks shutting the school gate on young disabled people’s futures.”
We’ll be looking at the NAO report and what reporting what it found in more detail next week.
16-19 transport – tell us if it works for you
The NAO also notes gaps in data on home to school transport collected by the DfE. Whilst the DfE did publish data this week we are keen to hear more from families about their experience 16-19 transport.
We will represent what you tell us in our submission to the Public Accounts Committee -a body of MP’s tasked with scrutiny of public spending – who are carrying out an Inquiry into school transport.
