Contact responds to the future of Home to School Transport – new Local Government Association report out today 

4 mins read

Wednesday 2 July 2025

Tags: local authority budgets, school transport, special educational needs


ISOS Partnership and the Local Government Association have today released a report looking at The Future of Home to School Transport.

In it they highlight the increasing cost of school transport and cite one of the reasons as being children with special educational needs travelling long distances because there are no suitable school places locally. The report makes recommendations for reducing the home to school transport bill for local authorities.

One of those suggestions is a 3 mile eligibility criteria (including most SEND students), at the discretion of local authorities. Contact is concerned about this as we have seen the impact of “local discretion” on Post 16 transport where it is being stripped away across the country. This criteria will not work for many SEND children and young people.  

Anna Bird, Chief Executive of Contact, said: “We are concerned that some of the proposals in today’s report dilute parents’ rights and may not meet the needs of pupils and students with special educational needs. These include the use of pick up points, the promotion of independent travel, the increase of Personal Transport Budgets and the proposal to transport to the nearest suitable school rather than a parent’s preferred school. All of these proposals could have a significant and detrimental impact on SEND children and young people, limiting choices and outcomes.  

“We understand the very real difficulties of increasing costs at a time when local authority budgets are under so much pressure. We believe greater access to welcoming and inclusive local schools and tackling expensive privatised bus and taxi companies would be a good place to start.

“We hear first-hand from parent carers across the country that a lack of council provided transport can have a devastating impact – with students sometimes missing out on school and families forced to give up work and left in financial hardship.  It is unfair to the balance the books on the backs of disabled children and young people. “

The positives 

The report positions transport as playing a “vital role in our education system”. And, it recognises that transport is linked to the current failures in the system – where many disabled children and young people just cannot go to their local provision. It also recognises that journeys are necessary, and families need support with them. 

It is encouraging that the voices of parent carers are included and that the report refers throughout to the specific circumstances of many disabled children/young people. 

“Assistance with travel to school can play an important role in reducing some of the barriers faced by families with children with SEND, with which other families do not have to contend.” 

The report notes the importance of council transport for many families with SEND children and young people and refers to our Contact survey where 81% of families receiving transport were satisfied with the service.  

Inline with our Close the Loophole campaign the report recognises the gap in transport for 16-18 year olds and the impact on SEND families. It proposes that transport should be available for eligible children from reception to Year 13 (with further proposals for Year 13 onwards for SEND students).  

What we’re doing 

We’re campaigning for change with our Close the Loophole campaign to fix the loophole in law for 16-18 year olds transport. 

We’re running a project looking at home to school and college transport thanks to funding from the Motability Foundation. 

We can help – if you need information or advice on school/college transport look at our online resources for transport in England or contact our  Helpline.