Commenting on new analysis by the County Councils Network on the rising costs of home to school transport, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“All pupils, including children with special educational needs (SEND), deserve access to a suitable education, no matter where they live, their family’s financial situation, or whether they have their own transport.

“For many, transport provided by the local authority plays a crucial role in ensuring this, helping children to attend school regularly and develop their independence.

“However, the costs to councils are considerable and it is not fair or sustainable for local authorities to go over-budget or artificially restrict transport that families rely upon.

“This is just one element of a broader, worrying mismatch which has emerged over the last decade between the needs of children, especially those with SEND, and the resources available to ensure they get the right support in the right education setting. It’s vital that the government’s white paper delivers both the investment and reform needed to fix this broken system.”