Lib Dems: Govt excuses on SEND transport have “run out of road”

EMBARGO: 00:01 31 Oct 2025

Responding to the NAO report that councils are spending 415 million more than budgeted on home to school transport for students with SEND, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, said:

“The Government’s excuses on transport for SEND children have run out of road.

“Years of chronic underfunding and neglect in SEND provision have left us with an impending crisis. Providers themselves are warning that Labour’s National Insurance hike is pricing special needs children out of the support they need.

“Too many children are having to spend crucial time travelling out of their local area. The DfE must act and deliver on the special school pipeline so that children with SEND can learn closer to home.

“Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to act now and exempt transport for vulnerable children with special needs and disabilities from Labour’s damaging jobs tax to ease the pressure on squeezed council budgets.”

ENDS