The real cost of school transport

2 mins read

Monday 10 March 2025

This advice applies in England only.

Our Policy Officer highlights harmful media framing around school transport for disabled children.

The cost of school transport for disabled children is becoming a familiar headline. More and more councils are saying they find the cost of providing transport unaffordable.

An article in the Guardian this weekend outlines some of the challenges councils face with the cost of services, including school transport. And it poses a cost comparison between school transport and road maintenance.

School transport or fixing roads? 

We think the important question is how much councils can actually meet their statutory duty to provide appropriate school transport to disabled children and young people. There is no value in an economic comparison between school transport and highways maintenance. Or any other local service for that matter.  

We understand the financial pressure councils face. But it is NOT the answer to cut an essential service like special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school transport, just because it seems expensive. Disabled children and young people are not an expensive exception to the rule. They have a right to appropriate support based on need, not money.

The real cost of school transport

At Contact, we know that school transport can be the glue that holds things together for families. The difference between coping and crisis.

We have heard of councils providing a bus pass for a disabled child unable to use public transport. Or a mileage budget that is not even close to covering the family’s cost. We know that where school transport is not provided to disabled children, the real cost to the family can be huge, both financially and practically. Young people are missing out on essential education and parent carers are experiencing more stress, having to give up work or reduce their hours. Just to get their child to school or college.

What we are doing

We are running a school transport project and will be working more over the next few months to raise the issues and campaign for change.

If you need advice around school transport, visit our Transport in England web pages or contact our helpline.

And if you want to tell us something about your school or college transport, get in touch with our policy lead [email protected].