Tom Gordon MP Calls for Better Home-to-School Transport for SEND Children
On Tuesday 3rd December, Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough spoke in a Parliamentary debate highlighting the challenges faced by children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) regarding home-to-school transport.
Tom focused on the specific difficulties experienced by SEND children and their families in Harrogate and Knaresborough. As Tom explained, the area falls under North Yorkshire Council, which faces significant challenges in providing SEND services due to its vast rural geography and the limited number of specialist schools. This combination of rurality and insufficient local provision forces many children to undertake extremely long journeys to access appropriate education.
During a recent visit to a specialist school in the constituency, Tom learned of a pupil who travels over 30 miles each way in a local authority-funded taxi. This example highlights the immense strain on resources, with North Yorkshire Council projected to spend £27 million on SEND transport in the 2024/25 academic year alone.
Tom also expressed frustration during the debate about the severe funding disparities affecting rural areas like North Yorkshire. Despite its challenges, the council ranks 148th out of 151 local authorities for high-needs funding per head of population. He argued that this inequality leaves SEND children at a significant disadvantage and called for the inclusion of rurality as a factor in funding formulas to better reflect the unique needs of areas like North Yorkshire.
Commenting, Tom said:
‘I am pleased to have been able to raise this issue today. Children with special educational needs and disabilities are being let down badly as a result of cuts to school and council budgets.
‘It is appalling to hear that children are having to travel up to 2 hours each way just to attend a suitable school. This travel time not only affects their ability to learn but also places an immense burden on their families. The government must invest in more special schools closer to home. Doing so would reduce reliance on costly transport arrangements and ensure that children receive the support they need without facing unnecessary hardships.’