Durham County Council is considering changes to post-16 home to school transport that could save more than £1m, with cabinet members next week asked to approve a public consultation.
Spending on post-16 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) transport rose from £1.663m in 2020/21 to £4.738m in 2025/26, and the council supports 610 learners.
Without action, the council estimates that total home to school transport costs are expected to hit £50m by 2029/30.
Five proposals are being considered by the local authority. The biggest would change the order in which assistance is offered, starting with a public bus ticket, then a personal travel budget, then a shared council transport seat, saving about £1.3m.
Others include requiring parents to accompany students under 18 on journeys of under three miles, removing travel help for work placements, and a £45,000 travel training pilot for students that are eligible for free assistance with their journeys.
Cllr Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: ‘Our aim is to sustain a fair and inclusive offer that reflects individual needs and helps young people build independence where it is safe and suitable. Rising costs mean we need to consider how we provide that support, but no final decisions have been made.
‘A consultation would help us consider the views of young people, parents and carers, education and training providers, and our partners on what these proposals would mean in practice. Their views, alongside updated assessments of the impacts, would inform any final decision.’
