Sheffield City Council says its SEND home‑to‑school transport is under "unprecedented pressure" and expects the 2025–26 budget of £20.5m to overspend by about £7m. Taxis account for roughly 60% of the SEND transport spend, with 78% of taxi journeys carrying a single child and most requiring a passenger assistant. Around 2,500 pupils use SEND transport (1,165 by taxi across 928 routes), many of which cross city boundaries. The council is asking schools to identify shared journeys, querying separate travel for part‑time timetables, and expanding personal travel budgets and travel training.
Sheffield warns SEND taxi costs could push council £7m over budget — urgent review of solo rides and part‑time timetables
Sheffield City Council says its SEND home‑to‑school transport is under "unprecedented pressure" and expects the 2025–26 budget of £20.5m to overspend by about £7m. Taxis account for roughly 60% of the SEND transport spend, with 78% of taxi journeys carrying a single child and most requiring a passenger assistant. Around 2,500 pupils use SEND transport (1,165 by taxi across 928 routes), many of which cross city boundaries. The council is asking schools to identify shared journeys, querying separate travel for part‑time timetables, and expanding personal travel budgets and travel training.
03:03 PM, 11/13/2025Society
Sheffield City Council has warned that home‑to‑school transport for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is under "unprecedented pressure" and that rising taxi costs could push its 2025–26 SEND transport budget far into deficit.
Key figures
The council set a SEND transport budget of £20.5m for 2025–26 but now expects to overspend by approximately £7m. Taxis account for around 60% of the SEND transport budget, and 78% of taxi journeys carry a single child — a far higher rate than in comparable authorities.
Who uses the service
About 2,500 pupils currently access SEND transport, with roughly 150 more expected to be added from September 2025. Of those pupils, 1,165 rely on taxis to reach 209 venues across 928 routes. Many journeys extend beyond the city boundary, increasing both cost and logistical complexity.
Cost drivers and anomalies
Most taxi journeys also require a passenger assistant, which further increases costs. A particularly notable finding in the council report is that around 400 children are on part‑time timetables (later starts or earlier finishes). That group accounts for nearly half of all taxi journeys.
"National guidance is clear that local authorities are not expected to provide separate travel for part‑time timetables except in exceptional cases. In Sheffield, however, this practice has become widespread."
Actions under way
The council has asked schools to ensure transport decisions are proportionate and to identify where journeys could be shared. A letter has been sent to schools requesting information about pupils on part‑time timetables. Senior officers are holding daily meetings to manage the budget position.
To reduce reliance on taxis, the authority is expanding personal travel budgets and increasing travel‑training programmes aimed particularly at post‑16 pupils so they can learn to travel independently.
Outlook
Correcting the common practice of providing separate travel for part‑time timetables and increasing shared journeys or independent travel could offer significant savings. The council is actively reviewing routes, occupancy and eligibility to bring spending back under control.