Oct 16, 2024, BBC News: Cuts to travel funding for city's SEND teenagers
N. England
Cuts to school transport funding for older teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Leeds are to go ahead.
At a meeting on Wednesday, Leeds City Council approved changes to the subsidised model for post-16 students in a bid to save money.
The authority is legally obliged to provide free home to school travel for SEND pupils in compulsory education, but there is no requirement to do so for older teenagers.
Labour councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said continuing to offer "discretionary" transport for over-16s was "not sustainable".
A report presented to the meeting stated that the changes would save about £800,000 in 2026-27.
The council carried out a consultation earlier this year into transport provision for SEND students aged over 16 and heard from young people and their families about what they wanted.
Across all age groups, the authority currently helps at least 3,500 children and young people with special needs get to school and college.
They often travel in taxis or in cars owned by the council itself.
A "rise in demand" had led to increased spending on assistance for those over the age of 16, councillors heard.
As part of the changes, this help would be limited to students who lived three or more miles from their place of education.
Ms Hayden said that "each case would be looked at individually" and that the council remained committed to supporting SEND students through the personal allowance and other measures.
The changes are expected be introduced from September 2025.
Any eligible young person in post-16 education would continue on their existing policy unless they moved house or education provider, councillors were told.
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