Cash-strapped Kirklees Council has spent almost £5.5m on taxi fares for school children between April and October this year.
Around 3,000 Kirklees pupils qualify for free school transport for a variety of reasons, including having Special Educational Needs or coming from a family with a low income.
Between the start of the financial year in April and October 31, there have been 101 days of Kirklees’ school term. A total of £5.45m was spent on school taxis in this time, a Freedom of Information request has shown. This works out at an average cost to the council of just over £54k each day of term.
Fifty taxi firms are on the council’s books for the same period, with some earning as much as £10,500 a day during term-time to take children to and from school. In the last five years, the local authority’s total bill for school taxi fares has exceeded £36.9m.
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In addition to this, 300 pupils of sixth-form age are eligible to have their costs covered by the council, resulting in a further £2.6m being spent on transport costs in the previous financial year. This equates to an average of £8.6k per student, and with costs rapidly rising, the council says this will eventually become unsustainable.
To relieve some of the pressure, the council is currently reviewing post-16 transport provision and has said they are open to changing their “Transport Statement” – which sets out arrangements for eligible pupils – as other local authorities have done.
A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: “Many councils must provide free school transport for children and young people of school age who qualify for this support.
“This is a legal requirement and eligibility is based on national legislation. Free transport is provided for a wide range of families – such as those with low incomes or where the child has additional needs – and is designed to ensure learners do not miss out on vital opportunities.”
The council also stated that the cost of school transport has seen a significant increase on a national scale, with local authorities up and down the country facing the same pressures. They also wanted to assure the public that they use a competitive tendering process to seek the best value for money.
The spokesperson continued: “In addition, all transport operators must be accredited by meeting strict criteria around safeguarding checks and training.
“We are looking to make savings across all school transport options whilst still ensuring pupils can access their place of education.
“One of the changes we are looking to make is in the way that young people of sixth-form age are helped to access education if they qualify for travel assistance.
“All councils have to produce a ‘Transport Statement’ setting out these arrangements for eligible pupils. Other local authorities have already changed their Transport Statement and we are currently seeking views on a similar process for Kirklees.
“We do not expect that any changes will involve young people with the greatest level of need, such as those who require specially adapted vehicles or specialist support.
“A consultation has recently opened about changes to post-16 transport and it can be found at: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/schools/post16-transport-consultation.aspx
“Like other local authorities, we are reviewing our transport services in light of financial effectiveness and in response to the changing needs of our young people.
“Our work to support school attendance is essential in helping children to achieve good outcomes, to enjoy the best start in life and to fulfil their long-term potential.”
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