Isle of Wight parents will have to pay more for Post 16 SEN travel assistance from September, it has been confirmed.
Director of Children’s Services, Ashley Whittaker, has approved changes to the Isle of Wight Council’s Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for the school academic year 2025/26 in a delegated decision authorised by cabinet members.
The changes include increasing a parental contribution towards the cost of travel support from £570 per academic year in 2024/25 to £582.54 per academic year for 2025/26, as well as future increases linked to inflation.
Those on low incomes or in receipt of benefits or free school meals will continue to be exempt from the contributions.
A council decision report says:
“As implemented in 2024, the council currently funds all Post 16 transport provision for those pupils with SEND, whilst there is no statutory requirement.
“The parental contributions bridge the gap between the full costs of providing the service, but do not fully recover the costs.”
“Between 2012/13 and 2022/23, the number of Post 16 children with SEND receiving free of charge transport has risen by 44%, from 105 to 151 pupils.
Article continues below this advertisement “Total costs for post 16 transport in 2022/23 were just over £763,000, based on 151 pupils travelling, an increase of 160% from £162,000 in 2012/13.”
County Hall’s changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy statement follow a linked consultation which started on 17th March and closed on 25th April.
Good, about bloody time, what about the taxis that we the council tax payer have to fund as well. There should be NO exemptions for those on benefits either.
I would like to know how many households
with more than 1 bedroom are paying single
persons council tax, making out they live alone
Lol
The whole system is S H I T!, and it is us genuine ones
who ae funding the ones who aren’t!.
I see the authorities cannot decide whether a child has SEN or little git syndrome who are ably supported by their parents who get extra benefits when a child is classified, time for this gravy train to stop.
No wonder the country is skint.
More dumb, bigoted remarks from the usual suspects