Lancashire County Council announced the move in a statement last Friday, confirming that the investment in the local authority’s Home to School transport service is expected to improve travel for those with SEND, while cutting long-term costs.

The council currently caters to roughly 5200 children with SEND and 900 vulnerable adults, using its existing 158 minibuses to provide transport to local schools and day centres.

According to the local authority, its Home to School service is one of the largest in England, and the expansion of the minibus fleet will enable the council to deliver transport arrangements for bigger groups of children.

The vehicles are ‘specially designed’, supplied by Ford Motor Company and two specialist conversion companies. Each minibus is also equipped with a driver and Passenger Assistant to manage the journeys.

While 25 of the new vehicles will be introduced in September, the other half will arrive in the approaching months.

County Cllr Matthew Salter, cabinet member for Education and Skills, said: ‘We are committed to securing real improvements in our SEND provision, while also ensuring value for money for the people of Lancashire.

‘We plan to significantly increase maintained special school provision through our capital programme, and to improve the home to school transport service thanks to the arrival of the new vehicles.’

He added that the investment will ‘ensure an efficient and well run service which meets the needs of the children who use it and place the voices of children and families at the heart of what we do.’

County Cllr Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, commented: ‘These bespoke, specialist vehicles will help the County Council to provide more good quality home to school transport for many passengers.’

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