SEND Transport Update 5th November 2025
- Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
SEND Transport Update: What You Need to Know
An update for parent carers following ongoing concerns around travel arrangements in Oxfordshire
We wanted to share a recent update from Oxfordshire County Council’s SEND Transport Team in response to the feedback and concerns raised by families — many of which have been shared with us over the past few weeks.
We know how exhausting, frustrating, and disheartening it has been for so many of you trying to get your child to school safely and consistently, often without the information or support you need. As parent carers ourselves, we understand the impact this has not just on your child’s education, but on your family’s work, finances, emotional wellbeing, and day-to-day life.
What we’ve raised with OCC
Over the past month, we’ve been in regular communication with the council to raise what families are telling us. These include:
Children left without transport or collected late with no warning
Changes to routes, drivers, or chaperones not communicated to families
Parents unable to get through by phone or email, even in urgent situations
The financial and emotional strain on families having to make long daily journeys themselves
Cases where there were concerns about safety or behaviour on shared transport — but families weren’t informed, and only found out through drivers or chaperones
We have specifically asked OCC to improve:
Communication to all families using SEND transport, especially during periods of change
Individual communication when transport changes or risks affect a specific child
Clarity around safeguarding processes and when families will be informed
Support or reimbursement for families left out of pocket when transport breaks down
We’ve also asked for a clear point of contact for urgent unresolved cases and a more transparent process so families can understand what’s happening.
OCC’s update: What happened?
Following the end of short-term transport arrangements on 24 October 2025 and the start of new routes from 3 November, OCC has confirmed:
128 children finished temporary transport
96 new routes began
In some cases, families did not receive timely updates about these changes
The council has acknowledged that communication during this handover period was not always clear or timely, and they have apologised for the disruption caused.
They launched an internal review and identified 36 children who may have been affected. As of 5 November, 31 families had been contacted, with the remaining 5 due to be contacted today.
Still waiting to hear? Here’s what you can do:
If your child still does not have transport in place, or if you haven’t received an update, OCC has shared a temporary contact for urgent follow-up:
📧 Dean Mitchell – Dean.mitchell@oxfordshire.gov.uk
📅 Available until: Friday 7 November 2025
📞 Transport Team Phone Line: 01865 323 795
📧 You can also copy in: EE-SpecialEducationalNeedsITU@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Safeguarding and risk communication
OCC has confirmed that when there are concerns around safety, wellbeing, or behaviour that directly affect a child’s transport, families may be contacted where appropriate. However, they’ve also explained that not all details can be shared particularly where information involves other passengers or is part of a confidential safeguarding process.
We’ve stressed how important it is that families are not left in the dark and are given clear reassurance when changes are being made in response to risk. We’ll continue to push for better transparency wherever possible.
Please continue to share your experiences
We will keep raising feedback with OCC and advocating for change — but we can only do this with your help.
If you’ve been affected by any of the above, please complete our short feedback form here:
Your experiences help us build a clear picture of what’s happening across Oxfordshire and ensure that families’ voices are being heard.
We’ll keep you updated
We’ll continue to post updates on our website and social media when we receive responses from OCC. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback with us. We know it takes time and energy that many of you don’t have to spare but your voices are powerful, and they are making a difference.
Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF)
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