County council chiefs have called for a ‘system-wide approach’ to tackling escalating home-to-school transport costs.
Demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has risen by 140% since 2014.
The growth in demand for EHCPs – coupled with an increase in travel costs – has resulted in home-to-school transport costs increasing to £2.3bn in 2024, according to a new report from the County Councils Network (CCN).
The report, which was written in cooperation with IMPOWER, estimates costs will reach £3.6bn per year by 2030 for councils across England.
Simon Edwards, chief executive of the CCN, said: ‘This report shines a light on the scale of the challenge councils are facing. With costs and demands at record highs, local authorities face intense pressures that are worsening each year.’
