A mother has said she may be forced to quit her job as a solicitor after Kent County Council withdrew her disabled son’s subsidised school transport, offering instead a personal budget she argues is woefully inadequate to meet his needs.
Caroline Hedley, 52, from Bidborough, said the loss of the free minibus service for her 18‑year‑old son Thomas, who has complex needs and learning disabilities, could mean she has to drive him to his special needs school in Tonbridge herself — a round trip of up to two hours a day. “I would have to give up my job to take my son to school,” she said. “There is nothing more ridiculous than that.”
The family has been offered a personal transport budget (PTB) of £4,000 a year to arrange alternative travel. Mrs Hedley estimated that a taxi would cost around £250 a week, quickly exceeding the sum. “Whilst £4,000 seems like a good deal for some people or seems like an awful lot of money, actually it’s not when you have to think about getting a disabled person to school,” she said. She added that Thomas would not be able to use public transport alone. “There is a reason why no one took up the PTBs – because it never worked for anyone.”
Mrs Hedley, who is appealing the council’s decision, said parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were already “overloaded” and were now “upset because they don’t know what their arrangements are going to be next year”. She accused the authority of “picking on” those least able to fight back.
Personal transport budgets – how they work
Kent County Council’s revised Post 16 Transport Policy, drawn up after a public consultation between January and March 2025, replaces much of the contracted transport — such as minibuses and taxis — that post‑16 SEND students previously received. Instead, eligible families are offered a personal transport budget.
According to the council, the PTB ranges from £1,400 to £4,700 per year depending on the distance between home and the educational setting. The money can be used for petrol, public transport fares or even wraparound care for younger siblings. Payments are made monthly for 11 months of the year but are conditional on attendance. The council warns that payments may be reduced or withdrawn if a child’s attendance falls below 90 per cent. The budget is also not paid for days the child is not required to be at school, and it is reviewed annually to ensure it remains cost‑effective.
The council operates a subsidised 16+ Travel Saver bus pass for most learners aged 16 to 19, offering unlimited bus travel across Kent. For the 2025/26 school year the pass costs the same as a standard Kent Travel Saver; from the 2026/27 academic year that cost will be deducted from any PTB awarded.
Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Ellis, who represents Bidborough and is a member of Kent County Council, said the policy had already prompted “over 16 SEND transport appeals” and called for a rethink. “Removing a minibus, for heaven’s sake, that’s going to be a massive disturbance to the whole family’s lives,” he said.
Council says no automatic right to free travel after 16
Beverley Fordham, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said: “I understand that changes to post‑16 transport may concern families, especially those supporting young people with SEND. National guidance is clear there is no automatic right to free transport after age 16 – even for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Local authorities must decide what support is needed.”
She said the changes followed a public consultation and the consideration of an Equality Impact Assessment. The policy, she argued, aims to support young people in developing skills, confidence and independence for adult life. “Travelling independently, where safe, is an important step towards further education, employment and greater self‑reliance,” Ms Fordham said. “We recognise this will not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with more complex needs, and support will still be considered where necessary.”
Ms Fordham, from the Reform UK group that holds a majority on the council, added: “Support for learners with SEND remains a priority. Help may be provided where needed to access education, including in exceptional cases, with decisions made case by case and a clear appeals process. We know these changes may be difficult for some families and remain committed to helping young people access education.”
The council’s position is underpinned by national guidance that removes the automatic entitlement to free transport at 16, even for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Local authorities have discretion under the Education Act 1996 and the Children and Families Act 2014 to determine what support to provide, with the Equality Act 2010 requiring them to consider reasonable adjustments to prevent disadvantage. A two‑stage statutory appeals process — an officer review followed by a panel hearing — is available to families who wish to challenge a decision.
Nationally, the Public Accounts Committee has warned of an “unsustainable” SEND transport system, with rising costs and a “cliff edge” in support after age 16. Other councils, including Leicester City Council, have introduced similar changes, citing financial pressures.
