A consultation on council-funded transport for 16–25s receiving special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support has opened in wiltshire today, asking whether taxis and minibuses should be swapped for bus passes, mileage allowances and other options. Wiltshire Council cites rising costs and growing demand for travel to education as the reason for the review. The council says the exercise is intended to identify more sustainable travel arrangements that help young people build confidence and independence.
Wiltshire Council outlines proposed changes
The council currently provides assistance for 428 post-16 learners who have SEND and an education, health and care plan (EHCP), at a cost of around £2. 3m a year. About 80% of that transport is delivered through contracted taxis or minibuses, and the consultation asks whether alternatives such as bus passes and mileage allowances for parents or carers should be used instead. Proposals referenced in the consultation also include independent travel training to support young people to use public transport and a stepped assistance model intended to promote greater self-sufficiency among learners.
Documents shared by the council set out that spare seats on council vehicles could be offered at chargeable rates where available, and that different charging bands could apply for low-income families. The review forms part of a response to a national picture in which spending pressures on over-16 SEND transport are rising faster than for younger learners. Wiltshire officials frame the options as ways to deliver assistance more sustainably while maintaining access to education settings.
Immediate reactions and quick context
“The public is being invited to share views on ‘sustainable’ travel options that allow young people to ‘build confidence, independence and vital life skills’, ” said Councillor Jon Hubbard, Wiltshire Council. “Post-16 transport plays a crucial role for many young people with SEND and their families, and this consultation gives us the chance to look carefully at how we provide travel assistance so we can plan for the future in the best possible way. “
Jackie Fieldwick, CEO of Brunel Academies Trust, said: “This is a really difficult situation that we’re all desperately trying to navigate, the council included. SEND transport is one of the most costly elements [of SEND funding], particularly somewhere like Wiltshire where you’ve got such a large authority. We never want to see young people going without provision, but [the financial situation] might mean having to look at different ways of doing that. “
Quick context: a recent parliamentary report noted that spending on SEND transport for over-16s has been growing proportionately faster than spending for under-16s. The council is seeking views from families, carers and education providers as it considers changes affecting post-16 travel assistance.
What’s next
The consultation opens today and will run until 15 April (ET); feedback from parents, carers, learners and education settings will be used to shape any final policy decisions. The council says options under consideration include bus passes, mileage allowances for family travel, independent travel training and the targeted use of council vehicle seats at chargeable rates where space permits. Draft proposals discussed in council materials indicate changes aimed at promoting independence could be phased in for new post-16 entrants at a later implementation point, while current students would be considered under existing arrangements unless circumstances change.
Officials warned that financial pressures are driving the review and that careful planning will be needed to avoid gaps in provision as any changes are implemented. Local families and organisations in wiltshire can expect further engagement from the council as responses are analysed and decisions are prepared for the next stage.
