ASN transport pilot approved
A PILOT project to increase the amount of school transport provided directly by Inverclyde Council’s transport service for pupils with additional support needs (ASN) has been approved.
At a meeting on Tuesday 2 September 2025, members of the council’s education and communities committee unanimously agreed to trial an extension of the local authority’s internal transport service to boost capacity and reduce costs.
Under the pilot project, the council will buy four new buses and take on drivers to deliver more ASN transport in-house.
Transport is currently provided through a number of means such as bus or taxi, by a number of private and charitable providers, and the council’s own internal transport service.
Approximately a third of ASN transport is provided internally and that will increase to around half through the additional vehicles and staff as part of the trial.
As well as creating more capacity to deal with growing demand for ASN transport, the pilot scheme will help reduce increasing spending.
The cost of ASN transport has gone up by 75 per cent in the last five years from over £735,000 in 2020/21 to almost £1.3 million in 2024/25.
The spend is projected to top £1.6m during 2025/26.
The pilot scheme was developed following a review of existing ASN transport.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, convener of the education and communities committee, said: “We have to ensure we can continue providing transport to those who need it in the most cost-effective way for the council and ultimately taxpayers.
“That’s what the review looked at and the recommendation is to pilot an increase in provision through the council’s own internal transport service to create more capacity and help reduce growing costs.
“It seems like a sensible approach that would also provide more flexibility and the potential for buses to be deployed to support other uses.”
It is anticipated that the pilot scheme would begin in August 2026 to allow for time to acquire new buses and hire drivers and would deliver an initial saving of almost £14k.
Currently, free transport is provided to all pupils with additional support needs who attend Craigmarloch School.
Transport is also provided to pupils with ASN who have been assessed as requiring it in settings such as Hillend Children’s Centre, Lomond View Academy, communication and language bases or within mainstream settings.
Children and young people who require transport to meet a short-term need are also supported.
Further information can be found in the committee reports which are on the Inverclyde Council website and the meeting is also available on the council’s YouTube channel.