Together for Children (TfC) has started a minibus service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The three mini-buses are now being used on SEND home to school transport routes and helping to ease pressure on external operators. By placing the vehicles with schools and local organisations, transport capacity is increased and access is improved for young people.
Each minibus offers up to 17 seats, with two of the vehicles fully wheelchair accessible. The TfC investment responds to the growing demand for increased wheelchair-capable transport and helps ensure more young people with mobility needs can travel safely and comfortably.
The vehicle livery was co‑produced with TfC’s SEND Stars participation group, reflecting the voices and experiences of young people. As children travel together on the bus for their school run, buses help promote inclusion and have proved popular for school trips, games, activities and half-term events.
The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills, Councillor Michael Butler said:
“I am very pleased to report the buses are proving a great success. Like authorities across the country, we have a duty to assist on travel to school arrangements for SEND pupils.
“This investment is about improving accessibility, reducing stress for families, and ensuring every child can get to school safely and comfortably.”
Following the launch, plans to expand the scheme with more minibuses for schools and local organisations are being prepared. This builds on a range of other successful initiatives, including independent travel training for young people with SEND.
TfC’s Director of Education Kimberley Richardson said:
“Our investment in the buses represents a major step forward in delivering safe, reliable, and inclusive travel for children and young people with SEND.
“Alongside increased transport capacity, the scheme offers a more environmentally friendly solution, reducing individual journeys and the need for individual vehicles.
“We have plans to increase the number of SEND buses and very pleased to have been receiving good feedback from local organisations, schools, young people, parents and carers.”
Colin Dagg, the Director of Keep Active, is one of the drivers and said:
“We’ve had very good feedback about the bus and the service we provide. It’s helping Keep Active to provide transport to and from our activities during the holidays and afterschool, which has been great in increasing access for young people who may have previously struggled to attend our sessions.”
Currently, around 1,300 children per day use travel assistance within Sunderland. As SEND numbers continue to rise, demand for accessible transport is greater than ever. The three buses are two Mercedes Sprinters and a Ford Transit with a total investment of £165,000.
Cllr Butler added:
“We’re all committed to meeting this need and the accessible bus project has strong potential for future expansion, with more routes and schools to be included as demand grows – one journey at a time.”
