Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure there is adequate funding for transport to specialised educational facilities for SEND students.

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so.

The department is aware that challenges within the wider SEND system are creating pressure on home to school travel. The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so fewer children need to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs.

The vast majority of central government funding for home to school travel is provided through the local government finance settlement, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Departmental officials are working closely across government in preparation for the next Spending Review to ensure the settlement for the 2025/26 financial year reflects local authorities’ need to spend on home to school travel.