Councils spent more than £160m last year on taxis and private hire vehicles to transport children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to and from school, according to a survey seen exclusively by the Guardian.
England’s county councils are warning that rising demand for SEND services is “creating budget risks†for local authorities, with school transport costs for children with special needs up by as much as 45% in some areas in the last four years.
The survey by the County Councils Network (CCN) shows that total spending on transport for pupils with SEND in 2017-18 was more than £323m across 36 county authorities in England, up from just under £250m four years ago.
Many children have to travel long distances to attend an appropriate school. Councils say they are being inadequately funded by central government and are calling for more money in next year’s spending review to match growing demand.
Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle underground station (Northern and Bakerloo lines).
Nearest Railway Station: Elephant & Castle
Buses from Elephant and Castle: ask bus driver for Burgess Park. Bus numbers: 12, 171, 148, 176, 68, 484, 42, 40, 45