SEND and home-to-school transport

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High-needs SEND costs are pushing two of these councils' schools budgets into sustained deficits carried under the government's statutory override.[1][2] County Durham names home-to-school and SEND transport one of its fastest-growing pressures, and per-pupil costs and demand are rising sharply.[3][4][5] Some councils have confirmed higher charges or withdrawn discretionary school transport, while others report holding eligibility and cutting cost through efficiency instead.[4][6][7][8][9][10] Area SEND inspections that found failings continue to shape provision, with EHCP timeliness recorded below the national rate in one area and only recently recovered to around the national rate in another.[11][12][13]

Key figures

2 councils recording a Dedicated Schools Grant high-needs deficit carried under the government's statutory override
West Northamptonshire Council
At the 8 December 2025 Schools Forum, officers reported a cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant deficit of about £56.7m across all four blocks, with the high-needs block deficit alone at £65m, held under the government's statutory override, which had been extended earlier in 2025 to end in March 2028.
“The government have a statutory override in place which was extended earlier this year to end in March 2028.” source ↗
Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire's Overview Committee was told on 27 November 2025 that the council was carrying a budget deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant high-needs block driven by SEND costs, in a position the council likened to many other authorities, with no government guidance yet on how the negative balances councils were carrying would be managed; by 12 March 2026 the Children and Families Department was developing a 'High Needs Block Recovery Plan' to reduce the pressure on that budget, and a 15 January 2026 budget report recorded the High Needs Block as over budget and due to be funded through reserves in 2026/27 pending a government decision on how HNB deficits would be managed.
“there was no information yet regarding how the negative balances councils were carrying would be managed.” source ↗
Derived from an exhaustive search for “DSG high-needs deficit under the statutory override”, counted against the corpus as of 2026-03-12.
2 councils that confirmed an increased post-16 home-to-school transport charge on families
Kent County Council
On 15 July 2025 Kent's Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee endorsed decision 25/00045, a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement (including Post 19) for 2026/27 under which the service would offer families a personal travel budget rather than council-arranged vehicles, with the saver pass costed at £630. Officers gave a 75% increase in qualifying students in six years and annual spending over £10 million as the reason, and said young learners and families would be compelled to engage with the Independent Travel Training Scheme from age 16.
“the annual increase in cost of the saver pass had occurred, so the correct costing of that was £630” source ↗
Derbyshire County Council
On 21 May 2026 the Cabinet approved the amended School Travel Policy and the amended Post 16 Travel Support Policy Statement for implementation from September 2027, and approved an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement from September 2026 in line with inflation.
“Approve an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for implementation from September 2026 in line with inflation” source ↗
Derived from an exhaustive search for “increased post-16 school transport charge”, counted against the corpus as of 2026-05-21.
2 councils under a SEND action plan after an Ofsted and CQC area inspection found failings
West Northamptonshire Council
The same 16 March 2026 meeting was updated on the Council's SEND Priority Action Plan, put in place after a SEND local area inspection in March 2024 found 'widespread and systemic failings'; a member noted that only around one-third of EHCPs were being completed within the statutory 20-week timescale, and officers said the next anticipated Ofsted/CQC visit would be a monitoring inspection of the action plan and the wider SEND partnership rather than of the Council itself.
“The SEND local area inspection in March 2024 identified widespread and systemic failings that resulted in five priority areas for action, which were collectively owned and delivered through the SEND partnership through a structured improvement plan, underpinned by partnership governance and regular monitoring.” source ↗
Nottinghamshire County Council
The Children and Families Select Committee was told on 14 July 2025 that Nottinghamshire's rate of EHCP assessments completed within the statutory timescale had risen from 4.5% to 47%, just above the then national average of 46%, following a 2023 Ofsted/CQC Area SEND Inspection that had found the Local Area Partnership failing on timely EHCP delivery; a follow-up Ofsted/CQC monitoring inspection reported in October 2025 found the Partnership had taken “effective action” on that priority area, meaning the council is not recorded as below the national EHCP-timeliness rate and is not shown in these minutes to be subject to a formal SEND improvement notice, though it remained under continued Ofsted/CQC monitoring.
“they reported that the Partnership had taken “effective action” in the two priority areas which had been highlighted in the previous Area Inspection back in January/February 2023.” source ↗
Derived from an exhaustive search for “Ofsted/CQC area SEND inspection found failings; council under a resulting action plan and continued monitoring”, counted against the corpus as of 2026-03-16.

High-needs budgets and the DSG deficit

The government's statutory override lets councils hold their Dedicated Schools Grant high-needs deficit off the general fund, and it has been extended to end in March 2028.[1][2] West Northamptonshire reported a cumulative DSG deficit of about £56.7m across all four blocks in December 2025, with the high-needs block alone at £65m.[1] By February 2026 its 2026-27 high-needs budget opened at an immediate deficit of £65.4m, and officers forecast the cumulative deficit reaching around £200m by the time the override ends.[2] Nottinghamshire recorded its high-needs block over budget and due to be funded through reserves in 2026-27, pending a government decision on how the negative balances councils are carrying will be managed. Its Children and Families department was developing a High Needs Block Recovery Plan to reduce the pressure, which was driven by SEND costs.

Home-to-school and SEND transport under cost pressure

Home-to-school transport, driven mainly by rising demand for SEND travel, is one of the fastest-growing financial pressures County Durham faces.[3] Kent linked its post-16 changes to a 75% rise in qualifying students over six years and annual spending above £10m, while Warwickshire's leader cited costs that had risen to nearly £50m.[4][5] Kent adopted a Post-16 Transport Policy for 2026/27 that offers families a personal travel budget rather than council-arranged vehicles, prices the saver pass at £630, and compels young learners to engage with independent travel training from age 16.[4] The changes apply only to future intakes, and Kent anticipated an increase in appeals.[14] Derbyshire consulted from December 2025 on redesigning its home-to-school and post-16 transport policy, with charges revised to benchmarks, pick-up points replacing door-to-door transport, and personal travel budgets and independent travel training for SEND pupils.[15][16] Members there raised concern that the spare-seats charge would rise from £480 to £570 a year.[16] In May 2026 Derbyshire's Cabinet approved the amended policies and an inflation-linked increase in post-16 parental contributions from September 2026.[6] County Durham agreed to cease its Maintained Concessionary Scheme at the end of 2025/26, removing transport for some non-entitled travel to school; the discretionary scheme ran at a loss of around £200,000 a year.[7] It also agreed a review of post-16 travel, with proposals due back in autumn 2026.[3] Warwickshire consulted on changing its renamed Children's and Young People's Travel Assistance policy; feedback showed the strongest opposition to changes affecting non-statutory provision such as SEND transport, with final recommendations due to Cabinet in June 2026 ahead of any implementation from September 2026.[5][17] Nottinghamshire's 2026-27 budget proposed a review of discretionary home-to-school transport schemes, though the minutes record only the proposal, not any confirmed change.[18] North Northamptonshire revised its statutory school-age transport policy in July 2025 with no substantial change to eligibility, and told scrutiny a transformation project was under way, with financial impacts expected from 2027/28 and means-testing among the review considerations.[19]

Councils holding transport eligibility

Several councils recorded no change to transport eligibility or charging, pursuing cost reduction through efficiency instead.[8][9][10][20] Lancashire approved its statutory Home to School Transport Policy for 2027/28 as an annual review, noting it remained compliant with Department for Education guidance and recording no change to eligibility or charging.[8] Staffordshire's cabinet member for SEND pointed to expanded local provision, route efficiency and personal travel budgets, with the service forecast around £1m under budget and no tightening of eligibility recorded.[9] Lincolnshire built a transport transformation on route optimisation, contract changes and a new Panacea e-auction purchasing system to cut contract costs, with no change to eligibility or charging.[10] Leicestershire confirmed its independent travel training scheme as a voluntary two-year trial for a small group of young people with less complex needs, who could return to supported transport, and recorded no change to eligibility or charging.[20]

EHCP timeliness and SEND area inspections

West Northamptonshire's SEND provision operates under a Priority Action Plan put in place after a March 2024 area SEND inspection found widespread and systemic failings.[11] Its performance against the statutory 20-week EHCP timescale remained below the national average, improving from about 2% a year earlier to over 30%, against a national average itself below 50%, on a trajectory to reach only about 74 to 75% by October 2026.[12] Officers said the next Ofsted and CQC visit would be a monitoring inspection of the action plan and wider SEND partnership rather than of the council itself.[11] Nottinghamshire's EHCP completion within the statutory timescale had risen from 4.5% to 47%, just above the then national average of 46%, following a 2023 Ofsted and CQC area SEND inspection that found the local area partnership failing on timely delivery.[13] A follow-up monitoring inspection in October 2025 found the partnership had taken effective action on that priority, though it remained under continued Ofsted and CQC monitoring.[13]

References

1. At the 8 December 2025 Schools Forum, officers reported a cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant deficit of about £56.7m across all four blocks, with the high-needs block deficit alone at £65m, held under the government's statutory override, which had been extended earlier in 2025 to end in March 2028.
“The cumulative position was about £56.7m across all four blocks of the DSG with a HNB deficit making up £65m cumulative” Minutes, 8 December 2025 ↗
“The government have a statutory override in place which was extended earlier this year to end in March 2028.” Minutes, 8 December 2025 ↗
2. At the 3 February 2026 Schools Forum, officers set the 2026-27 high-needs budget at an immediate deficit of £65.4m and warned that, with the statutory override due to end in March 2028, West Northamptonshire's cumulative DSG deficit was forecast to reach around £200m by then, a further £15m lost investment income hitting the general fund.
“The gross budget requirement against this would be approximately £153m, resulting in an immediate deficit budget of £65.4m, which was in line with medium term financial planning.” Minutes, 3 February 2026 ↗
“The statutory override was due to end in March 2028 but no details were yet available about deficits up to that point. The cumulative deficit for WNC was estimated to be around £200m by then.” Minutes, 3 February 2026 ↗
3. The same Cabinet agreed to a review of post-16 travel with proposals due back in autumn 2026; the report recorded home to school transport as one of the council's fastest growing financial pressures, driven mainly by rising demand for SEND transport.
“agreed to the Local Authority undertaking a review of post-16 travel and to bring back proposals to cabinet in the autumn of 2026” Decisions, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Home school transport remained one of the council's fastest growing financial pressures driven mainly by the rising demand of SEND transport, increasing complex needs and market costs” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
4. On 15 July 2025 Kent's Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee endorsed decision 25/00045, a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement (including Post 19) for 2026/27 under which the service would offer families a personal travel budget rather than council-arranged vehicles, with the saver pass costed at £630. Officers gave a 75% increase in qualifying students in six years and annual spending over £10 million as the reason, and said young learners and families would be compelled to engage with the Independent Travel Training Scheme from age 16.
“This was due to a 75% increase in qualifying students in the past six years and a 40% increase in transport costs per pupil which had pushed annual spending over £10 million” Minutes, 15 July 2025 ↗
“the annual increase in cost of the saver pass had occurred, so the correct costing of that was £630” Minutes, 15 July 2025 ↗
“The service was to start compelling young learners and families to engage with the Independent Travel Training Scheme from age 16” Minutes, 15 July 2025 ↗
5. On 16 October 2025 Warwickshire's Cabinet agreed to a public consultation on proposals to change the Children's and Young People's Travel Assistance policy, formerly the Home to School Transport Policy; the Leader cited costs that had risen to nearly £50m.
“The Leader reminded the meeting of the large increase in costs which had risen to nearly £50m” Minutes, 16 October 2025 ↗
“sought approval to undertake a public consultation on proposals to change the Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Travel Assistance policy, formerly known as the Home to School Transport Policy” Minutes, 16 October 2025 ↗
6. On 21 May 2026 the Cabinet approved the amended School Travel Policy and the amended Post 16 Travel Support Policy Statement for implementation from September 2027, and approved an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement from September 2026 in line with inflation.
“Approve the amended School Travel Policy for children of Compulsory School Age as set out in Appendix 4, for implementation from September 2027” Minutes, 21 May 2026 ↗
“Approve an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for implementation from September 2026 in line with inflation” Minutes, 21 May 2026 ↗
7. On 11 February 2026 Durham County Council's Cabinet agreed to cease the Maintained Concessionary Scheme at the end of the 2025/26 academic year, a proposal the report described as removing transport for some non-entitled travel to school; the discretionary scheme operated at a loss of around £200,000 a year.
“a proposal to re-visit a deferred decision on progressing the implementation of the maintained concessionary scheme to remove transport for some non-entitled travel to school” Decisions, 11 February 2026 ↗
“This discretionary scheme operated at a loss of around £200,000 per year, benefitted a very small number of schools and lacked a clear business and equity case” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“agreed to cease the Maintained Concessionary Scheme at the end of the 2025/26 academic year” Decisions, 11 February 2026 ↗
8. Lancashire's Cabinet approved the statutory Home to School Transport Policy for academic year 2027/28 on 19 May 2026 as part of its annual review, noting the policy was compliant with Department for Education guidance issued in January 2024; the minutes record no change to eligibility or charging.
“It was noted that Lancashire County Council reviewed its Home to School Transport Policy on an annual basis and the policy was compliant with the most recent guidance issued by the Department for Education in January 2024” Minutes, 19 May 2026 ↗
9. Asked at full council on 12 February 2026 how it would reduce home to school travel costs for children with special educational needs, Staffordshire's Cabinet Member for Education and SEND pointed to expanded local provision, route efficiency and promotion of personal travel budgets, with the service forecast around £1 million under budget; no tightening of eligibility or new charge was recorded.
“We are improving transport efficiency through QRoutes, reducing single occupancy taxis, and promoting personal travel budgets and mileage allowances. These actions are helping to reduce costs, with the service currently forecast to be around £1 million under budget this year” Minutes, 12 February 2026 ↗
10. Lincolnshire's scrutiny and audit committees recorded a home to school transport transformation built on route optimisation, contract changes and a new Panacea e-auction purchasing system to reduce contract costs; no change to transport eligibility or charging was recorded in the period.
“A new Dynamic Purchasing System using the Panacea e-auction platform was introduced, which enabled operators to bid competitively in real time and helped to reduce contract costs” Minutes, 23 March 2026 ↗
11. The same 16 March 2026 meeting was updated on the Council's SEND Priority Action Plan, put in place after a SEND local area inspection in March 2024 found 'widespread and systemic failings'; a member noted that only around one-third of EHCPs were being completed within the statutory 20-week timescale, and officers said the next anticipated Ofsted/CQC visit would be a monitoring inspection of the action plan and the wider SEND partnership rather than of the Council itself.
“The SEND local area inspection in March 2024 identified widespread and systemic failings that resulted in five priority areas for action, which were collectively owned and delivered through the SEND partnership through a structured improvement plan, underpinned by partnership governance and regular monitoring.” Minutes, 16 March 2026 ↗
“A member recognised the significant reduction in average EHCP assessment times but expressed concern that only around one-third of EHCPs were being completed within the statutory 20-week time scale.” Minutes, 16 March 2026 ↗
“The next anticipated inspection was to be a monitoring inspection of the priority action plan and the Partnership rather than of the Council.” Minutes, 16 March 2026 ↗
12. At the 16 March 2026 Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, officers reported that performance against the statutory 20-week EHCP timescale remained below the national average, having improved from about 2% compliance a year earlier to over 30%, against a national average itself below 50%, with a trajectory to reach only about 74-75% compliance by October 2026, still short of the 100% target.
“The performance against the 20-week statutory timescale was noted as unacceptable, but the overall target was to achieve 100% compliance. The national average for EHCP timeliness was below 50%, and the Council’s position reflected a wider national challenge. Performance had improved from a baseline of approximately 2% compliance to over 30% within a year, with the current trajectory aimed to reach approximately 74–75% compliance by October 2026.” Minutes, 16 March 2026 ↗
13. The Children and Families Select Committee was told on 14 July 2025 that Nottinghamshire's rate of EHCP assessments completed within the statutory timescale had risen from 4.5% to 47%, just above the then national average of 46%, following a 2023 Ofsted/CQC Area SEND Inspection that had found the Local Area Partnership failing on timely EHCP delivery; a follow-up Ofsted/CQC monitoring inspection reported in October 2025 found the Partnership had taken “effective action” on that priority area, meaning the council is not recorded as below the national EHCP-timeliness rate and is not shown in these minutes to be subject to a formal SEND improvement notice, though it remained under continued Ofsted/CQC monitoring.
“Previously, the number of EHCP assessments completed by the Partnership to the statutory timescales stood at 4.5%. At present, this number was at 47%.” Document, 13 October 2025 ↗
“The current national average was 46%.” Document, 13 October 2025 ↗
“they reported that the Partnership had taken “effective action” in the two priority areas which had been highlighted in the previous Area Inspection back in January/February 2023.” Document, 1 December 2025 ↗
14. In March 2026 the committee heard that, following the July 2025 decision on post-16 transport policy for learners with EHCPs, a further update was sent to families in October to confirm the changes applied only to future intakes, and that an increase in appeals was anticipated.
“Following the July 2025 decision, a further update was sent in October to confirm that the changes applied only to future intakes” Minutes, 17 March 2026 ↗
“It was explained that an increase in appeals was anticipated, and work was underway to develop further Member training and guidance” Minutes, 17 March 2026 ↗
15. On 4 December 2025 Derbyshire's Cabinet approved a public consultation on potential changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory school age children and the post 16 transport policy statement, as part of a Children's Services Home to School Transport Policy Redesign.
“To approve a public consultation on potential changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory school age children and the post 16 transport policy statement” Minutes, 4 December 2025 ↗
16. The redesign presented to the People Scrutiny Committee on 6 February 2026 included charges revised to align with benchmarks, pick-up points to reduce door-to-door transport, and personal travel budgets and independent travel training for SEND pupils; members raised concerns at the spare seats charge rising from £480 to £570 a year.
“Concerns were raised by committee members due to the price increase in the spare seats policy as it would be increased from £480 to £570 annually” Minutes, 6 February 2026 ↗
“These included but were not limited to; charges revised to align with benchmarks; pick-up points introduced to reduce door-to-door transport; and the introduction of personal travel budgets and enhanced independent travel training for SEND pupils” Minutes, 6 February 2026 ↗
17. Consultation feedback reported to scrutiny on 22 April 2026 (623 responses) showed the strongest opposition to proposed changes affecting non-statutory provision such as SEND transport; final recommendations were to go to Cabinet in June 2026 ahead of any proposed implementation from September 2026, subject to approval.
“He highlighted areas of strongest opposition, particularly proposed changes affecting non-statutory provision such as SEND transport, catchment schools, respite settings, managed moves and the use of street lighting in route safety assessments” Minutes, 22 April 2026 ↗
“ahead of any proposed implementation from September 2026, subject to approval” Minutes, 22 April 2026 ↗
18. Nottinghamshire Cabinet's Budget 2026-27 proposals, put to Cabinet on 29 January 2026 for recommendation to Full Council, included a proposed review of discretionary home-to-school transport schemes, disclosed in a councillor's declaration of interest because it could affect Catholic schools in the county; the retrieved minutes record only that the review was proposed within the budget papers, not its conclusions or any confirmed change to eligibility or charges.
“the proposed review of discretionary home to school transport schemes contained within the budget proposals” Document, 5 March 2026 ↗
19. North Northamptonshire's Executive approved a revised Home to School Transport Policy for statutory school age students on 15 July 2025, with officers stating there were no substantial changes and eligibility was not affected. At scrutiny in February 2026 officers said a transformation project was in progress with financial impacts expected from 2027/28, and that means-testing formed part of the wider review considerations.
“A cross-Council transformation project was in progress in relation to Home to School Transport, supported by external expertise, with savings built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan and financial impacts expected from 2027/28. Means-testing formed part of the wider review considerations” Minutes, 17 February 2026 ↗
“There were not any substantial changes and eligibility was not affected but it did set out a clearer process” Minutes, 15 July 2025 ↗
20. A proposal to develop independent travel training, considered by Leicestershire's Scrutiny Commission on 11 May 2026, was confirmed as a voluntary two-year trial aimed at a small group of young people with less complex needs, with participants able to return to supported transport; no change to transport eligibility or charging was recorded.
“The Director of Growth, Environment and Transport confirmed that the scheme would be voluntary and delivered only with the support of families and schools, and that it would be aimed at a relatively small group of young people with less complex needs, representing a limited proportion of the overall cohort” Minutes, 11 May 2026 ↗