Change announced on plans to end SEND transport

A council has revised a proposal to end post-16 school transport for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Leicester City Council was due to stop the funding in July in a bid to save money, prompting protests from families.

The authority has now announced that following two consultations it is proposing to offer support to those who cannot travel independently.

Elaine Pantling, assistant city mayor for children's services, said 87% of students would benefit and a decision on the travel policy is expected on 13 May.

If the policy is approved, students who qualify for support would receive a personal transport budget, which could be used to pay for transport including a lift in a car or a bus pass.

Leicester City Council suggests at current rates this would be a payment of 45p per mile, plus £500 per year.

It said support could be increased and include taxi or bus provision if a student also has limited exceptional circumstances and failure to provide this support would lead to financial hardship.

The authority said as of March this year, 208 students were receiving financial support at a cost of about £1.8m per year and predicts the cost to rise to at least £2.6m in 2025/26 if no action was taken.

Councils are not required to provide post-16 SEND transport and receive no funding from the government to do so.

Pantling said the authority had been forced to make changes due to its "financial position".

"Our new policy would mean that around 83% of post-16 students with SEND would still receive transport funding, while an additional 4% would qualify for support due to their complex additional needs," she said.

"We know that some students will be half-way through their studies if the new policy is introduced, and to avoid disrupting them, we are proposing that those now in Year 12 will continue to receive support during Year 13, for the academic year 2025/26.

"Support will be offered to all those students who don't meet the proposed qualifying criteria, to help them to take advantage of independent travel training, school bursaries, and alternative options for travel support that are available."

The authority added the move would contribute towards the £23m of savings it needs to make by 2027/28, but has predicted an estimated shortfall of £68m.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.