Council Moves to Make Post-16 SEND Transport Fairer

South Tyneside Council is considering changes to the subsidy it provides for post-16 educational transport in a bid to make things fairer.

Proposals for the future of transport for post-16 South Tyneside learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are set to be discussed by Cabinet next Wednesday 19 March.

There is no requirement for the Council to offer free or subsidised provision for SEND young people post 16. Although South Tyneside Council has historically fully subsided all post-16 SEND transport, paying for young people to travel to their place of education entirely free of charge.

The Council is now proposing that some families pay a contribution towards travel costs. For these families, the Council would continue to subside post-16 SEND transport, paying for over 80 per cent of the cost of the service. The contribution from families equates to £1,069.20 per child per year - equivalent to the cost of an annual all zone Nexus travel card.

The contribution would be means-tested. Low-income families and those eligible for free school meals will still pay nothing.

South Tyneside is one of the only authorities locally and nationally that still fully funds home to education transport for eligible post 16 SEND learners. With the cost of delivering free home to education travel having increased significantly, the current arrangements are not sustainable.

Councillor Liz McHugh, Lead Member for Children and Families Social Care and Education and Skills, said: "This approach is about maintaining a safe and effective post-16 SEND transport service for those who need it, while encouraging greater independence among our young people attending sixth form or college.

"It's about targeting our resources towards those who need it the most and reshaping services in a way that also helps to prepare and support our over 16 SEND young people as they move into adulthood. We encourage all our children to travel independently where possible, whether by walking, cycling or using public transport.

"Learning to be more independent is an extremely important step on the journey to adulthood, not just for travel to school or college but to social and community activities and training and work opportunities in the future. Without this, many of our SEND young people would leave college or school with little to no experience of independent travel at the same time of Council support naturally ceasing at the age of 18, or 25 in some cases."

One of the ways the Council supports is through its enhanced Independent Travel Training (ITT) offer which is helping more SEND young people gain the confidence and vital skills needed to travel safely and independently with their friends and peers.

The training gives young people more choice and control over their mode of transport, with fewer relying on the unsustainable use of taxis for individual journeys.

Since the Council's ITT programme began in 2023, 177 young people have been trained, with an additional 29 being trained each week.

Chris Rue, Head Teacher of Epinay School in South Shields, said: "With many of our young people having taken part in the Independent Travel Training offer, I've seen first-hand the positive impact it has had on learners.

"It's fantastic to see them grow confidence and explore different modes of transport. It goes a long way to boosting self-esteem and resilience, empowering our young people to develop those important life-long skills to travel independently to school and beyond, now and in future. Of course, we know this is not right for all young people and we continue to provide more specialist support for those with the highest needs where the barriers to independent travel are more complex."

Additional financial support is also available for those families who would be required to pay the contribution charge.

There are currently 139 young people accessing Personal Transport Budgets, which provide help towards home to education transport costs. Bursaries are also available to those in vulnerable groups as well as support from some colleges and training providers.

Councillor McHugh added: "We have been working hard to target support to those who need it the most to help reduce inequalities and make things fairer. This is another example of that.

"We would only be asking families to pay around a sixth of the cost of the service. The remainder of the costs would continue to be met by the Council.

"Paying to provide a service that we are not required to fund has created additional financial pressures for the Council over time. The introduction of a contribution charge will help to meet the increased costs of home to education transport linked to the increased number of students with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans and the increased demand for specialist provision both in and out of the Borough.

"We have already brought in a range of changes to home to school transport by working with schools and families to provide shared transport arrangements, promoting independence and increased travel training. Children with the most significant needs would always require accompanied transport."

The proposals come following a consultation exercise held last autumn.

If approved by Cabinet, the new contribution arrangement would come into effect from September 2025.

Cabinet members will also be asked to defer a decision on proposals for centralised pick-up points for young people attending the same educational provision, with a view to undertaking further consultation in the future.