Post-16 school transport system fails children - MP

An MP says disabled children and their families are being failed by the current system of home to school transport.

Jen Craft, the Labour MP for Thurrock, Essex, said "education can be thrown into turmoil" when a child turns 16, as many cannot access their schooling.

Councils have to provide transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) between the ages of 5-16.

Education minister Catherine McKinnell said she was "committed in creating opportunities for all children. No child should struggle to get to school because of lack of transport".

Craft told MPs many councils continued to provide free transport between the ages of 16 and 19, but rising demand and costs meant cutting the service.

There are 576,000 children in England with an Education, Health Care Plan who should be receiving Send support.

Ben Coleman, Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham, told MPs: "According to Contact, a charity, 79% of disabled young people are being denied or charged for school transport when they turn 16.

"One in 10 are paying more than £1,000 a year."

He was one of 33 MPs who spoke in the Westminster Hall debate.

Craft said she knew of one parent who had to quit work to make four 11-mile trips a day to take their child to their education.

She is calling on the government to change the transport provision "so local authorities have a legal obligation to ensure no child is denied an education that allows them to get on in life".

Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin in Hertfordshire, said there were "heartbreaking realities for families and young people travelling far too far, at far too great a cost to access the school they need, with some being shut out of support due to their age".

Lib Dem spokesperson Victoria Collins said: "There is currently a postcode lottery where Send provision means a lot of our children are being left behind.

"The previous Conservative government failed children with Send needs for not planning effectively for the increased demand on Send school places."

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: "The Conservative government increased the high needs budget by over 60% in 2019-20 to £10.5bn and put in place a statutory override so Send-related deficits do not overwhelm council budgets."

Kinnell replied: "For far too long, far too many children are being let down by the special educational needs system that is not working.

"We are determined to fix it and restore parents trust."

The minister told MPs that Send transport was an area she was "keen to look at".

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