English councils are spending twice as much on school transport for children with special educational needs compared to road network maintenance, according to an investigation by The Guardian. The majority of councils, 35 out of 43, have reported that their spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) transport exceeds their budget for maintaining revenue roads. On average, the amount spent on transport is slightly more than twice the amount allotted for road maintenance, with one council, Wakefield, spending seven times as much on SEND transport as on road maintenance. Councils have cited the rapid growth in pupil transport costs as a significant burden. The law requires councils to provide transport to SEND pupils if they live beyond a certain distance from their nearest suitable school, with most of these pupils traveling by taxi. The County Councils Network has reported a 25% increase in the number of students traveling by taxi since 2019, resulting in substantial costs. Norfolk spent over £40 million on SEND pupil transport in the previous financial year, while Hertfordshire spent £37 million and Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, and West Sussex each spent around £28 million. The growth in education, health, and care plans (EHCPs), which provide extra help and education in non-mainstream schools, has contributed to the rapid increase in costs. The 2014 school reforms introduced by Conservative education secretary Michael Gove, which prioritize exam and test results, have also made schools less inclusive. The Labour government is attempting to reverse some of this by introducing new Ofsted grades based in part on inclusion, aimed at bringing more SEND pupils into local schools and reducing transport costs. However, many councils believe this will require additional resources as the wider SEND system is currently in chaos.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/09/english-councils-spending-twice-as-much-on-send-pupil-transport-as-fixing-roads