County Councils Network

Last week, the Public Accounts Committee released a new report, with MPs warning the government's SEND reforms leave unanswered questions over home to school transport costs.

Our recent research found that county and unitary councils are at the sharp end of these costs - and that councils across the country are on course to be transporting a city's worth of extra pupils by 2030 if nothing changes.

Bill Revans - Leader of Somerset CouncilBill Revans calls on government to look again at what support it can provide to counties in The Independent ⬇️

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/send-school-transport-government-changes-b2932854.html #

Government warned SEND reforms leave ‘unanswered questions’ Ministers have unveiled sweeping reforms to the SEND system

“The big prize on offer here is the chance to improve educational outcomes and experiences for young people with SEND."

Today the government has unveiled its long-awaited proposals to reform the SEND system, including a greater emphasis on inclusion in mainstream schools.

This is an approach the County Councils Network has long called for, with Bill Revans - Leader of Somerset Council warning that the present SEND system not only works for no-one but is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

Read our on-the-day response to the proposals, unveiled as a 12-week consultation:

Government unveils plans to reform the SEND system: CCN response - County Councils Network Today the government has published its long-awaited reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, and will now consult on its plans over the next twelve weeks. The County Councils Network (CCN) will be assessing the plans in the coming weeks, but many of the proposals set....

“It is vital that government does not ignore the alarming rise in SEND school transport costs, which has become one of the biggest pressures on council budgets over the last few years.”

Read coverage of our new research on home to school transport in today's The Telegraph as Bill Revans - Leader of Somerset Council calls for the imminent Schools White Paper to confront the rapidly-rising costs of SEND school transport:

Special needs school transport bill to rocket 70pc to £3.4bn, Phillipson warned Cost of getting Send pupils to class already ‘one of the biggest pressures on council budgets’

Our new research reveals that councils across England are on course to be transporting 100,000 extra SEND pupils by 2030 - a small city's worth.

It finds that local authorities are set to be spending £3.4bn a year on SEND home-to-school transport by 2030, a 70% increase on what we estimate they spent last year.

Bill Revans - Leader of Somerset Council argues that government's Schools White Paper must set out measures that confront the rapidly rising costs of SEND school transport.

Read the research: https://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/schools-white-paper-cannot-ignore-looming-3-4bn-send-transport-bill-councils-warn/

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of the team at the County Councils Network!