Threads / SEND Reform: Putting Children And Young People First / In written evidence, the Association of Directors of Childr…
Written Evidence Published 6 Mar 2026 ↗ View on Parliament

In written evidence, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) raised its concerns about the unsustainable pressure that the costs of SEND transport were placing on local authority general budgets, noting that these transport costs are not covered by the Dedicated Schools Grant. ADCS explained that the current legislative framework allows parents of children with an EHC plan to express a preference for a school outside their local area and requires local authorities to pay fo...

In written evidence, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) raised its concerns about the unsustainable pressure that the costs of SEND transport were placing on local authority general budgets, noting that these transport costs are not covered by the Dedicated Schools Grant. ADCS explained that the current legislative framework allows parents of children with an EHC plan to express a preference for a school outside their local area and requires local authorities to pay for associated transport, even where there is an appropriate school closer to home. In this way, ADCS asserted, statutory duties that were intended to be f Type: conclusion | Number: 27 | Response status: response_pending