Post-16 SEND home to School Transport Consultation

Overview

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) currently provides transport for about 175 young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are over 16. This includes 40 people aged 19 or older. 

The Council does not have to provide transport to post-16 learners by law. 

It costs around £700,000 a year to run. About £400,000 is spent on external services such as privately operated taxis, and about £300,000 is internally spent on staff and Council vehicles. 

More people are requesting this type of transport, and the costs are going up. If nothing changes, this will put more and more pressure on the Council’s budget. Over time, this may be too expensive to continue in its current form. 

No decisions have been made yet about changing the service. 

The Council’s Cabinet has agreed to run a public consultation. This means they want to hear people’s views before deciding what to do. After the consultation, they will review the responses and make a decision. 

The aim of the consultation is to ask what people think about different options, and how to balance cost, access, and support for learners. 

Your response will help the Cabinet make a more informed decision.