Cut to SEND students travel support considered

Leeds City Council is spending more than £4m a year on travel for post-16 pupils with special needs and disabilities

Proposals to cut support for students over 16 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who need transport to college are to be put out to consultation.

Leeds City Council currently pays for transport to allow more than 800 SEND students aged 16-25 to access further education.

But the authority has described the situation as "financially unsustainable" and said it was looking at proposals to help young people "find their own" way to college.

A consultation over the issue is likely to begin later this month if it is signed off by senior councillors next week.

Across all age groups, Leeds City Council currently helps at least 3,500 children and young people with special needs get to their places of education.

This is often in taxis, or in cars owned by the council itself.

But while the authority is legally required to put on transport for youngsters of primary and secondary school age, it is not obliged to do the same for post-16 students.

'Focus support'

The council said that with demand having increased rapidly in recent years, it was now paying between £4m and £4.5m a year on travel for the over-16 age group.

The authority said it would still offer discretionary help for some learners, but a review of the overall service would help it "focus support and available resources to those young people and families most in need".

Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said: “As an authority, we remain committed to providing discretionary transport assistance for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

“However, the way we currently do this is not sustainable considering the financial challenges faced by the council, and with demand for these services doubling since 2015."

The consultation, if approved, is scheduled to begin on 24 June and last for four weeks.

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