Kingston's spending on SEND home-to-school transport has risen significantly as EHCP numbers grew from approximately 1,400 in 2020 to 1,923 by late 2024. The council's accumulated high needs funding deficit has reached £20.9 million. Parents report unreliable service and long journey times.
Affects: 380 SEND familiesSEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) home-to-school transport is one of Kingston Council's fastest-growing cost pressures. The council's DSG (Dedicated Schools Grant) high needs block has been in deficit since 2021, with the accumulated deficit reaching £20.93 million.
The number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in Kingston has grown significantly. Government statistics show Kingston was responsible for approximately 1,400 EHCPs in 2020. By October 2024, that figure had risen to 1,923 — a 37% increase in four years. This mirrors a national trend: EHCP numbers across England have risen approximately 40% in the same period.
Kingston's accumulated high needs deficit of £20.93 million is documented in council committee papers. Under the government's Safety Valve or Delivering Better Value programmes, councils are expected to develop plans to bring deficits under control. Rising transport costs — driven by increased EHCP numbers, out-of-borough placements, and limited competition among transport providers — put pressure on these recovery plans.
The National Audit Office has documented SEND transport as a major cost driver nationally. The average cost per SEND pupil for transport was £8,116 in 2023/24 nationally. A shortage of specialist school places within boroughs means more children are placed in schools outside their home authority, increasing journey times and costs.
Parent forums and SEND advocacy groups in Kingston have raised concerns about reliability, late pick-ups, driver changes without notice, and long journey times for out-of-borough placements. These concerns are consistent with national patterns documented by the SEND transport review.
We are tracking the People Committee's review of SEND transport provision, whether new in-borough specialist provision reduces out-of-borough placements, and the trajectory of the high needs deficit.
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