Cost of school transport for SEND children doubles

School transport costs for children with special educational needs in Cumbria exceeded £16m last year

The cost of providing school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in a county has more than doubled in five years.

Figures obtained by the BBC through a Freedom of Information request revealed the cost to councils in Cumbria went up from £7.6m to £16.3m in five years.

Westmorland and Furness Council blamed the rise on an increased in the number of children needing the service, as well as higher costs.

Cumberland Council did not respond to a request for comment.

Councils have to provide transport to children with special educational needs and disabilities who are unable to walk to school.

The figures show that it cost the old Cumbria County Council authority £7.6m to get these children to school in 2018-19.

Similar picture

Cumbria County Council was replaced by Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council last year.

In their first year of operating, they spent £8.5m and £7.8m on school transport respectively - a total of £16.3m.

That is similar to the picture across England, where the cost has roughly doubled.

A spokesman for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “In line with other local authorities across the country, the figures demonstrate the increase in cost associated with SEND transport over recent years.

"Providing safe and efficient transport for all our children and young people in Westmorland and Furness to access education is a responsibility we take extremely seriously."