ISOS Partnership: From home to the classroom - making school transport services sustainable
Escalating costs in home to school transport is shooting up the agenda and this report, produced with Isos Partnership, explores growing costs and proposes independent solutions.
This report, commissioned by the County Councils Network (CCN) and produced by Isos Partnership, examines the rapid growth in demand and expenditure for home to school transport services, particularly in county and rural areas.
It shows this service area is becoming financially unsustainable, driven overwhelmingly by rising numbers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), increasing journey lengths, and escalating unit costs.
It also projects demand into the future. While CCN member authorities have implemented a wide range of local efficiencies, the report concludes that these measures are insufficient to offset pressures that are rooted in national policy and the SEND system. It sets out ways that government can manage these pressures through reform.
New data analysis in the report finds that:
- National spending on home to school transport rose from £1 billion in 2015/16 to over £1.5 billion in 2021/22, with CCN members accounting for 57% of total spending despite serving 42% of the school-age population.
- CCN member councils are estimated to spend around £1 billion in 2023/24, with national expenditure approaching £1.9 billion, representing a 23% increase in just two years.
- SEND transport is the primary driver of costs, accounting for nearly three‑quarters of all expenditure, with pre‑16 SEND spending forecast to rise from £572 million in 2022/23 to £983 million by 2027/28 in CCN areas.
- The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans increased by 115% between 2015 and 2023, directly increasing eligibility for transport.
- Use of individual taxis for SEND pupils increased by 36% since 2019, with over 30,000 children now travelling by car or taxi.
- By 2027/28, CCN members are forecast to transport over 400,000 children, with total spend rising to £1.48 billion.
Recommendations to government include:
- Reform the SEND system to reduce demand for specialist placements and long-distance travel. Invest in special school capacity and inclusive provision closer to home.
- Update home to school transport legislation to better target support and reflect modern travel patterns.
- Consider introducing a national means-test policy, with local areas choosing whether to adopt this.
- Reduce reliance on taxis through greater use of personal transport budgets and independent travel training.
- Strengthen public transport investment in county and rural areas.