We have been contacted by Stockport Council to let us know that The SEND Transport Consultation is now live. These links will take you to a website that will let you share your views online.
https://consultation.stockport.gov.uk/schools/changes-to-send-school-transport-service
https://consultation.stockport.gov.uk/schools/easyread-send-school-transport-consultation
There are four online sessions taking place which people can join to hear about the consultation, ask questions and share their views. You can book by visiting this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stockport-send-transport-consultation-question-and-answer-session-new-tickets-1955026780729?aff=oddtdtcreator
Details of the consultation is included below including other ways to have your say. We have copied the content included in the Easy read version below. We have a copy of the full consultation document and appendix 1 – Post 16 Travel Policy, which we are happy to share, but as the documents are quite lengthy, we have not added them to our website and included links instead which will let you access them.
Changes to Special Educational Needs (SEND) School Transport Service – Copied from the Easy Read Version
What is this about?
Stockport Council wants to make changes to how transport is provided for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
They are asking for your views on new ideas to make transport better and easier. Ideas include helping young people travel independently and offering money to families to arrange travel themselves.
This document explains what changes are being suggested and how you can tell us what you think.
Who is this for?
- Children and young people with SEND
- Parents and carers
- Schools and colleges
- Transport providers
- Anyone interested in SEND transport
Important Dates
- The consultation starts on 3rd November 2025.
- The consultation ends on 15th December 2025.
How to have your say
We want to hear from you. Your views are important and will help us make the right decisions. You can tell us what you think by:
- Filling in the form online at www.stockport.gov.uk/haveyoursay
- Sending an email to travelcoordination@stockport.gov.uk
- Posting your response to:
- School Places, Admissions and Transport Team,
Stopford House,
Stockport,
SK1 3XE
Here are the main things you need to know:
- The cost of SEND transport has gone up a lot.
- More families are asking for help with travel to school and college.
- There are less taxis and drivers available to provide transport.
- The Council wants to help families find better ways to travel that will give people more choice and help people be more independent.
What is being suggested?
- Stockport Council wants to:
- Make things clearer for young people over 16 who need help getting to school or college.
- Help more young people travel independently by using things like buses, trams or trains.
- Offer families money every month to arrange their own transport, this is called a Personal Travel Budget.
- Use less private hire taxis.
- Make sure transport costs are good value.
Proposal 1 – Post-16 Travel
- Young people over 16 will be asked to try all the travel options that are already available to them before getting help from the council.
- If help is needed from the council, the council will offer training to help young people learn to travel on their own. This is called Independent Travel Training.
- If the young person can’t do the Independent Travel Training safely then families will get money to arrange travel. This is called a Personal Travel Budget.
- The Council will only pay for taxis in special cases.
What is Independent Travel Training?
- This is when someone helps you learn how to travel on your own. For example, using buses, trams, or trains safely.
What is a Personal Travel Budget? (PTB)
- This is money given by the council each month to help you with travel costs or even arrange your own travel instead of using council transport. It can give you more freedom to choose the best travel option to suit you when you need it. You could do things like:
- Use it for fuel, bus passes, or shared travel with someone else
- The amount you get depends on how far from school or college you live. The further away you live, the more the travel budget is.
- An example is a 4-mile journey = £177.28 per month
Questions You Might Have about PTB’s
- Will it affect my benefits? – No, if used to get to school or college
- Will the money be taxed? – No
- Can I get PTB for more than one child? – Yes, if they are going to a different school or college but this would only be for the miles travelled from home to that school or college.
Proposal 2 – Transport Contracts
- The Council will check if current transport contracts give good value for money.
- They will use a new way to decide if transport costs are fair. The new way will include the cost of:
- how far the taxi it has to travel,
- how big the vehicle needs to be,
- how long it will have to wait and;
- if another adult is needed to travel to help the passengers.
- If costs of the taxis are too high, families may get a Personal Travel Budget instead.
- In special cases, the Council may still arrange transport.
Next Steps
The Council will look at all feedback and make decisions in February 2026.
- If proposal 1 is agreed, it will start from September 2026.
- If proposal 2 is agreed, it will start straight away.