English councils seeking more help to pay for rise in Send transport costs

Of 43 councils that replied to a Guardian request for data, all but eight were spending more on special needs transport than on their revenue roads budget. Photograph: Martin Bowra/Alamy

Councils in England urgently need more money to help them pay for school transport for children with special needs.

Many councils have told the Guardian that their obligations under the wider special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system are financially unsustainable, with the rapid increase in pupil transport costs becoming a particular issue.