Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rises in the cost of fuel on the (a) provision and (b) cost of school transport for (i) children and (ii) young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the current academic year.

The department is offering support to help people with costs such as childcare, bills and transport. The government’s dedicated website provides more information about cost of living support. It is available at: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.

Our home to school transport policy aims to ensure that no child is unable to access education because of a lack of transport. Local authorities must provide free home to school transport for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance or due to their special educational needs or disability. There are additional rights to free transport for low-income families aimed at helping them exercise school choice. Home to school travel and transport guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.