Putting Families First in SEND and School Transport Reform

By Mike Fairbrother, Product Owner at Flexiroute 

Why SEND reform needs to prioritise Children, not just policy

The government’s proposals for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform offer some promising aims—earlier intervention, greater inclusion, and stronger collaboration with families. These goals resonate with those of us who live and work in the SEND space, whether in education, transport, or local authority services.

However, families—especially parents and carers, remain cautious. Many are still navigating a complex, under-resourced system.

As a Product Owner at Flexiroute and the parent of a child with SEND, I see this issue from multiple sides. I’ve been in the meetings, filled out the paperwork, and gone through the appeals process. I’ve also seen parents stretched to their limits trying to secure the right support for their children.

The system should not add to that stress.

The true cost of SEND Transport: More than a number

When council spending on SEND home-to-school transport reaches £1.4 billion, we must ask what that number really means. It doesn’t just represent a budget item. It represents a child getting to school, maintaining routine, and feeling included. Behind every journey is a child who depends on it.

At the recent LGA conference, several critical issues were highlighted:

• SEND deficits currently stand at £5.2 billion, and could rise to £8 billion by 2027
• Requests for EHCPs are climbing rapidly
• Schools lack adequate resources
• Parents and carers are burning out
• Transport services are over capacity and often rely on outdated tools

Local authorities are expected to do more with less. But reducing access to EHCPs or cutting transport support will only worsen the situation.

What real reform should look like

Effective reform must be grounded in real-world experience. That includes input from families, educators, health professionals, and local councils. Top-down policies alone won’t deliver the change we need.

Here’s what that change must include:

• SEND transport designed around individual needs, not generic data points

• Early help that’s consistently available and equitably distributed

• Mainstream inclusion backed by proper investment in staff, training, and accessible infrastructure

We all share a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. But support shouldn’t have to be fought for—it should be a given. Reform must protect the legal rights of families, ensure fairness regardless of postcode, and enable local authorities to deliver services that are not only efficient, but empathetic. 

This reform must work. And it must work for everyone. 

Not just for budgets. Not just for headlines. But for the child who simply wants to get to school, to learn, to belong. 


Mike Fairbrother 
Product Owner, Flexiroute 

✅ Let’s Build Smarter SEND Transport Together 

At Flexiroute, we partner with local authorities to modernise home-to-school transport—making it more efficient, cost-effective, and person-centred. 

📅 Ready to see what Flexiroute can do for your council? 
👉 Book a demo today and explore how we can support your team in delivering better SEND transport outcomes. 

 
References: Special Educational Needs: support in England – House of Commons Library