A parent carer responds to Richard Tice’s comments on school transport
3 mins read
Wednesday 3 September 2025
Earlier this week Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform, made an ill-informed comment saying some parents are using and abusing free taxis to school for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Contact wanted to give a parent the opportunity to respond, as well as set some facts straight ourselves.
Ailith Harley-Roberts’s daughter Thalia is aged 16 and has Down syndrome. Ailith said: “The comments from the Deputy Leader of Reform on school transport were contemptible and ill-informed.
“Most SEND parents will have been up for many hours, clothing, feeding, administering therapy and medication to their children, before they even get to school. Accusing them of being lazy is damaging and irresponsible. Unpaid parent carers save the NHS and social care thousands of pounds every year.
“Children and young people with SEND often attend schools some distance from home. This is not parental choice. It’s ensuring their child can learn and get an education in a school that meets their needs. Sadly, local schools can’t always provide an appropriate education for children with additional needs.
“No parent wants their child in a car, bus or taxi for hours. They just want their child to have the education they have a right to and deserve, and also want to be able to work as much as possible which contributes to the economy.”
Contact responds to Tice comments
Angie Fenn, Head of Advice at Contact added:
“Parents make an application for transport to the local authority. Parents applying under the SEND criterion are required to provide reasons and any professional evidence why their child requires transport. It is completely wrong to assert that parents are abusing the system. In fact, our helpline hears regularly from families whose children have been turned down for school transport despite providing evidence of eligibility.
“Some children may be unable to walk to school because of a physical disability or medical issue. Others may have psychological or behavioural issues that put them at risk.
“According to our own research, only half of children who qualify for school transport get a council-funded taxi or bus. 49% have a family member who drive them to school and are paid a mileage allowance by the local authority for that journey.
“School transport is the glue that holds families with disabled children together. Without it, parents have to give up work to transport their child long distances, families spiral into crisis and young disabled people are more likely to drop out of school or college. This leads to fewer qualifications and life skills, stacking up higher costs in the future. It is the definition of false economy.
“Greater access to welcoming and inclusive local schools and tackling expensive bus and taxi charges would be a good place to start to reduce school transport costs for local authorities.”
Close the loophole campaign
Families across England are being denied school transport when their disabled child turns 16. While young people are expected to stay in education until they’re 18, an unfair loophole in the law means their right to council transport can suddenly change or end at 16.
This isn’t right. That’s why Contact is leading a campaign to close the loophole.
Together with other parent carers, we’ve written a letter to schools minister Catherine McKinnell calling for a fairer system where decisions are based on need, not age.
Please stand with us by adding your name to our letter to the minister today.
