Pupils 'asked to walk through firing range' to school, MP claims

**Serious safety concerns have been raised over school transport arrangements after claims that pupils are being directed to walk through an active army firing range to reach their school.** The allegations, raised by a Member of Parliament, highlight the extreme measures some families may be facing as local authorities grapple with mounting pressures over statutory school transport duties. With councils required to provide free transport for eligible pupils—including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) living beyond walking distance or for whom walking routes are unsafe—budget constraints appear to be creating difficult decisions about risk assessments. The claims underscore the complex challenges facing local government in balancing financial responsibilities with safeguarding obligations. For children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in particular, transport is often essential to accessing appropriate provision, yet rising costs and rural geography continue to test service delivery. Ministers will need to address these concerns to ensure that cost-saving measures never compromise child safety or statutory entitlements.