Leeds City Council has proposed reducing transport support for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The council spends £4m-£4.5m each year on discretionary transport assistance, with the number of learners receiving transport support having doubled since 2015.
The city council has launched a public consultation setting out a number of changes to discretionary transport assistance for post-16 learners with SEND.
The changes proposed include considering travel distances to education settings, helping students make their own transport arrangements via a transport allowance, asking for a contribution towards transport costs, and limiting support to post-16 only with support for post-19 learners ending.
Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council executive member for children and families said: ‘We remain firmly committed to supporting all those in Leeds with special educational needs and disabilities as much as possible, but the level of transport support we currently offer is not sustainable given the current financial challenges the council faces and the increasing level of demand.’
