SOME families of children with special educational needs or disability (SEND) could have to pay up to £1,800 for transport services following changes introduced by the county council.
Plans to introduce changes to post-16 transport service have been approved by Hampshire County Council.
The new arrangements will bring in charges for all families, and provide assistance only for those post-16 students with special education needs who are from low-income families.
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Families on low incomes eligible for support would be asked to contribute 15 per cent of the costs, which could be up to £1,800 per child.
It will also introduce mandatory independent travel training (ITT) for some students.
This means that parents and caregivers will be required to assist their children during travel. If they cannot provide this assistance, they must explain why it is not possible.
At the cabinet meeting on Friday, August 8, cabinet member for children’s services Roz Chadd said that although the independent travel training would not fit every child, it is on offer for as many young people as possible.
Cllr Chadd added: “Not only does that help in this period of their lives, going forward it gives them a great independence as they move into adulthood.”
Concerning the changes, Cllr Juliet Henderson said officers will review every application on a “case-by-case basis”.
She added that where the contribution brings a family below the threshold, officers will look at that “very closely”.
The new requirements will be implemented from September 2026.
The council indicates that the changes to the post-16 policy would generate around £2.55 million a year in savings.
Currently, the county council assists with travel expenses for post-16 students with special educational needs or a disability (SEND). This service currently costs over £5.4 million a year, with an average cost per student of over £12,000.
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