CASE STUDY · SEND TRANSPORT
£1.4m to £2.4m a year.
More independent travel.
A county council's SEND transport costs were rising with demand for taxis. In six weeks, we found which pupils could travel more independently, and which journeys did not need a taxi.
Objectives and impact
We were commissioned to identify opportunities to reduce the demand for taxis, and to prepare more young people for adulthood through travel independence.
OBJECTIVE 01
Quantify the savings from independent travel training.
EXPECTED IMPACT
Up to £800k
a year from independent travel training, delivered through a 12-month partnership with schools.
OBJECTIVE 02
Test transport policy against practice to find the journeys that did not need a taxi.
EXPECTED IMPACT
£646k to £1.6m
a year from a driving time policy with personal budgets, keeping support for families with exceptional circumstances.
OBJECTIVE 03
Better prepare young people for adulthood through travel independence.
EXPECTED IMPACT
105 to 146
young people aged 14+ better prepared for adulthood, travelling with their peers rather than alone in a taxi.
How we did it, and what we found
We assessed every pupil's journey, and reviewed each opportunity individually before it was included.
Assessed every pupil's journey
1,574
pupils' driving and public transport journeys assessed at school travel times, checking that alternative routes were practical and allowed on-time arrival.
Identified independent travel opportunities
48%
of taxi users in Years 10–11 and post-16 had a safe public transport alternative, creating opportunities for independent travel training.
Challenged existing transport policies
2 workshops
explored policy changes with council teams, including a 15-minute driving-time threshold, to identify opportunities for more efficient transport provision.
Planned school-level interventions
56 schools
identified for engagement to review pupils' individual circumstances and agree actions to increase travel independence and prepare for adulthood.