Stockport Council is considering changes to transport for students with special educational needs (SEND) for the next academic year. 

The move comes amid increasing pressure on the local authority as more SEND students apply for travel assistance, and fewer private contractors offer services. 

Local authorities in England and Wales have a duty to provide free transport assistance to students with profound disabilities. 

Those over 16 are not automatically entitled, and instead have their own 'Post-16 Transport Policy'. 

Instead of directly providing free transport, authorities have a duty to more widely support these students in accessing education or training – but can still determine if free transport or other provisions may be needed to do this. 

In a Children and Families Scrutiny Committee held this week, Stockport Council said its SEND transport service has seen its costs almost quadruple since 2020, from £2.6m a year to a predicted £9.1m by the end of 2026. 

Now, post-16 transport alone is expected to cost around £2-3m by the end of the year. 

The cost of private contractors has also significantly increased due to the rising cost of fuel, cost of living, and higher wages, as well as a "significant proportion" of workers leaving the industry. 

Following a consultation held in December, the council is now deciding between two proposals, expected to come into effect from September 2026. 

Speaking at the committee meeting, Chris Harland – Stockport Council's Head of SEND, Access, and Admissions – outlined the proposals. 

"The first proposal is to revise the Post-16 Transport Policy, focusing on three core principles," he said. 

"One is actually utilising the plethora of transport options that exist across Greater Manchester through the Bee network, through Transport for Greater Manchester, or through what exists in college settings. 

"If they are not suitable, then we focus on independent travel, and we look to see if that learner is suitable for Independent Travel Training, and if they are, then to give them the skills and the abilities to be able to independently travel to their setting. 

"And then the third thing is, if they're not suitable, we provide the family with a personal budget." 

As outlined in the proposal, the personal budget given to families will be based on the walking distance between the student's home and their college or school. 

The budget would add up to 41p per mile, paid monthly, to be spent on transport or other barriers they may face to get to education. 

If the student misses a day, a day's worth of money would be deducted from the next month's pay to reflect the absence. 

Moving to the second proposal, Harland described plans to "seek the best value within the market". 

It would see Stockport Council renegotiate contracts with private firms to more effectively cover costs, at the risk of making journeys more expensive for pupils and their families. 

The transport rates would be based on the Stockport Hackney Carriage fare rates, which change based on distance, time, day of the week or year, and number of passengers. They would also charge a premium based on vehicle type and passenger assistance. 

The council would calculate the 'best value cost', but if private firms ask for more than 10% of this, they will not agree to a deal. 

The council have said they would pay for this transport for families in exceptional circumstances, where they hold evidence proving that they cannot reasonably be expected to pay. 

Otherwise, families will be given a personal budget to cover the cost themselves. 

Addressing fears that the budget wouldn't cover the cost of private transport in this proposal, Harland confirmed that parents and carers would be entitled to an independent appeal. 

"If they're unhappy with the decision made by the local authority, or if they've got specific circumstances which they don't feel are adequately prioritised or represented within the policy, then they can go and present those to an independent panel who have the powers to override and overturn the decision made by the local authority," he said. 

"That includes any formation of travel assistance that the local authority provided. If the level of arbitration fails, there's always the government, too." 

It is understood that either proposal may save over £250,000 once put in place, and will not affect primary and secondary school SEND students who access free transport. 

A final decision is set to be made in the coming months. 

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