Island Parents To Pay More For Post 16 SEND Travel Assistance

Isle of Wight parents will have to pay more for Post 16 SEND travel assistance from the next academic year.

Director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker has approved changes to County Hall’s Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for the school academic year 2025/26 in a delegated decision authorised by cabinet members.

The changes include increasing a parental contribution towards the cost of travel support from £570 per academic year in 2024/25 to £582.54 per academic year for 2025/26 as well as future increases linked to inflation.

Those on low incomes or in receipt of benefits or free school meals will continue to be exempt from the contributions.

A council decision report says:

“As implemented in 2024, the council currently funds all Post 16 transport provision for those pupils with SEND, whilst there is no statutory requirement.

“The parental contributions bridge the gap between the full costs of providing the service, but do not fully recover the costs.”

“Between 2012/13 and 2022/23, the number of Post 16 children with SEND receiving free of charge transport has risen by 44 per cent, from 105 to 151 pupils.

“Total costs for post 16 transport in 2022/23 were just over £763,000, based on 151 pupils travelling, an increase of 160 per cent from £162,000 in 2012/13.”

County Hall’s changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy statement follow a linked consultation which started on March 17 and closed on April 25.