Published on Wednesday 10 December 2025
Proposals to transform home-to-school transport for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have been voted through by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) councillors.
BCP Council supports 1,639 SEND children with school transport daily, with over 1,300 receiving door-to-door service by taxi or bus.
Recommendations to improve the service include travel options tailored to individual needs, helping young people gain confidence and skills for travelling safely.
The improvements aim to prepare young people for adulthood in a way that is right for them, while making services more efficient and sustainable.
The proposals, which were approved at a Council meeting last night, include:
- A phased, three-year transformation programme co-produced with families.
- Simplifying routes to reduce journey times and costs.
- Introducing safe group pickups where appropriate.
- Exploring passenger assistant options through transport contractors.
- More flexible supply and procurement processes.
Cllr Richard Burton, portfolio holder for children and young people, said: “Getting from home to school and back is big part of every child’s day and a vital part of their learning as they grow into adulthood.
“Safe, reliable transport is important and to keep it strong for the future, we need to make some changes.
“These proposals will help children and young people with SEND travel more independently, building confidence and practical life skills for adulthood.
“They aim to offer tailored travel options that promote independence, reduce journey times, and deliver better value for money.
“Every decision will put individual children’s needs first, and we’ll work closely with families throughout the process.”
The recommendations came from an independent review, which identified key challenges, including rising demand, complex transport arrangements, market capacity issues, and the need for improved commissioning models.
The Council will now seek approval to tender for an external provider at an estimated cost of £1.5 million, funded through the flexible use of capital receipts.
A consultation with children, young people, parents, carers, and schools, will also take place.
The programme expects to save the council £3 million in annual savings and starting from 2028/29 enable a further £2.7 million reduction in net annual costs.