The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) welcomes the ISOS Partnerships’ report, The Future of Home to School Transport (HTST) – The future of home to school transport | Local Government Association, as a timely and much-needed exploration of an issue that directly affects the families we represent and their children’s access to education.
The NNPCF commend the report’s inclusion of Parent Carer voices and its balanced presentation of the complex challenges surrounding HTST. The NNPCF are particularly encouraged by the recognition that HTST must be considered as part of the wider education ecosystem, not in isolation. The report rightly highlights that reducing the distances children travel to reach a school that meets their needs is key to creating a system that is not only more efficient and financially sustainable but also better for children and families.
However, the NNPCF are apprehensive about the emphasis on financial sustainability, especially in the current climate of limited suitable local provision. Cuts to HTST, particularly for post-16 learners, are already having a tangible negative impact on families. Short-term financial savings at the local level often result in greater costs to the broader education and care systems and, more importantly, they risk denying children and young people with SEND their right to an education that meets their needs, reducing their ability to achieve and thrive.
The NNPCF have serious concerns about the potential introduction of compulsory or mandatory Personal Transport Budgets (PTBs). While flexibility can benefit some families, mandating PTBs may shift the burden of responsibility and cost onto families who may not be equipped; financially, logistically, or otherwise, to manage transport themselves. For many families of children with SEND, especially those with complex needs or living in rural areas, this could be exclusionary and increase inequality in access to education and increase isolation.
The NNPCF have significant reservations about the report’s recommendations around a 3 mile eligibility threshold and reliance on ‘local discretion’ to determine HTST support. Without explicit guidance and accountability, these changes risk creating further inconsistency, confusion, and conflict between families and local authorities. Any future policy updates must be based on the individual needs of the child or young person and consider wider family circumstances to ensure provision adapts accordingly.
The NNPCF are also concerned that policy proposals for post-16 young people with SEND do not allow for choices about their education settings. Any changes to HTST policy must support, not limit, these young people’s rights to access the setting that best meets their needs. Clarity will also be needed regarding any requirement for accompaniment for secondary-aged pupils and the use of Pick-up Points. These may create additional challenges, especially for the SEND community, unless carefully planned around the child or young person’s needs, promoting their independence and co-produced with those who will be most affected.
HTST policy should support equitable access to education, ensuring appropriate support staff ratios and, where needed, a clinically trained workforce, to safely transport children and young people and enabling access to the full school experience, including breakfast and after-school clubs. These wraparound services are essential to inclusion and should not be compromised by transport limitations.
The NNPCF support the report’s conclusion that HTST is a key enabler of educational access and improved life outcomes. It is vital that any future developments in HTST policy are co-produced with Parent Carers, young people, national and local government, education providers, and health services. Only through genuine collaboration can we ensure that HTST systems uphold the rights of all children and young people to free, appropriate, and accessible education.
NNPCF welcomes the ISOS report’s insights and balanced approach but urges caution around financially driven recommendations that risk exacerbating existing inequalities. The NNPCF call for clear statutory guidance, inclusive and transparent policy development, and holistic planning to ensure HTST continues to support the right of all children and young people, including post-16 learners, to access the educational setting that best meets their needs.