Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of recent trends in the amount of time taken for transport to be arranged for SEND pupils; and what steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities process applications for SEND transport promptly.

The department’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. 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, 5-16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their SEND or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income families.

The department is aware that challenges within the wider SEND system are creating pressure on home to school travel. The department is grateful to local authorities for their continued efforts in the face of significant challenge to ensure transport is available for eligible children.

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, with specialist provision supporting children with the most complex needs. Improving early identification of need and setting clear expectations about the type of support that should be available in mainstream settings will mean fewer children need to travel long distances, with complex travel arrangements, to a school that can meet their needs. This will reduce the pressure on home to school travel.