CCN Dialogues: IMPOWER - The Travel To School Challenge

Our Dialogues publications are a series of think pieces dedicated to specific subjects, supported by our partners.

This report, produced by IMPOWER in partnership with the CCN, outlines the scale of England’s home-to‑school transport crisis and the practical steps councils can take to mitigate rising costs and demand—particularly for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  

The study highlights that home‑to‑school transport has become one of the fastest‑growing pressures on local authority budgets, driven by sharp increases in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), growing complexity of need, and acute cost escalation in rural areas.

This report sets out some steps councils can take to create efficiencies and help to manage demand: Councils can influence demand through improved communication, behavioural insights and eligibility clarity. Officers can understand individual needs by using tools to match pupils to appropriate transport.

People’s independence can be maximised via travel training and innovative personal transport budgets. Local authorities can bolster governance through a clear statement of purpose, a home-to-school transport board and regular needs‑based reviews.