'I feel that we're being held to ransom by some firms...'

City council reveals £3m overspend on SEND school transport

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

A COUNCIL overspent its special education transport budget by nearly £3 million last year.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council paid £9.37 million on school travel assistance for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in 2024/25, compared to a budget of £6.42 million - a 46 per cent overspend.

Councillors are now set to carry out a review looking into how the money is spent, after concerns were raised that taxpayers are being 'held to ransom' by taxi firms.

Members of the children and family services scrutiny committee were told that councils have a legal duty to provide travel assistance to families when a child would otherwise be unable to get to school.

SEND pupils can qualify for assistance due to the distance they need to travel, or because of their special needs. A total of 1,201 pupils in Stoke-on-Trent are currently eligible for travel assistance on the basis of SEND.