Home-to-school transport

Surrey has the third largest local authority spend on home-to-school transport in the country. Despite this, many parents and carers in Woking contact me because they are still struggling to get the home- to-school transport that their children need.

At the last count, Surrey County Council spent over £65 million on home-to-school transport in one year alone – most of which was on transport for children with special educational needs.

Because Surrey County Council has failed to properly invest in SEND school places, children are being forced to travel for their education. This pushes yet more cars onto our already congested road network and – and leaves the council with an astronomical transport bill.

The current system isn’t working for anyone – not parents, carers, taxpayers or the wider community. I've heard harrowing stories of children being directing onto unsafe routes, simply so the council can avoid providing transport. One young girl was told to walk down an unlit country lane with no pavement.

In Parliament, I’ve pushed for capital investment to build more SEND places – an invest-to-save approach that reduces transport costs and improves lives. With Surrey County Council being replaced in ten months, I’ll be working hard to ensure its failings aren't inherited by the new authority.

Watch my speech