Leeds City Council launches consultation on SEND transport support

The consultation is now underway on proposed changes to the way Leeds provides transport assistance for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

At the minute local MPs and the leaders of political parties are fighting for the populations vote, however citizens in Leeds have also been asked to share their views on a new transport update that will affect SEND individuals.

Due to run until 23^rd July 2024, a public consultation has been launched which highlights plans that Leeds City Council is considering changing the existing discretionary transport assistance for post-16 learned with SEND. Councillors have claimed it will help promote independence through travel.

Last week senior councillors approved the plans at an executive board meeting.

Currently, the local authority is statutorily obliged to make free of charge home to school travel arrangements for eligible children of compulsory age, there is no similar statutory obligation on the authority to provide transport for post-16 learners.

Officials have remarked that the changes would significantly help address financial challenges facing the council. As it stands they pay between £4m-£4.5m each year for transport assistance, with the number of learners receiving support having doubled since 2015.

‘We encourage as many people as possible to look at these proposals and give us their views by taking part in the consultation. It will be vital in shaping the decisions made in this area, so we want to hear what people think,’ Cllr Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said.

‘We remain firmly committed to supporting all those in Leeds with special educational needs and disabilities as much as possible, but the level of transport support we currently offer is not sustainable given the current financial challenges the council faces and the increasing level of demand.’

Cllr Hayden added: ‘We will be encouraging young people, their families, and partners across the city to take part in the consultation in order to reach a carefully considered decision on how to proceed.’

Although the policy seems negative on the surface, the council have assured that replacement options will be put in place should it be passed.  

These include:

• Considering travel distances to education settings
• Helping students make their own transport arrangements via a transport allowance
• Asking for a contribution towards transport costs
• Limiting support to post-16 only with support for post-19 learners ending

The feedback received in the consultation will be presented to the executive board in October 2024 with a decision expected on implementation from September 2025.

Image: CHUTTERSNAP

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