SPECIAL educational needs and disabled (SEND) students will be charged for home to school transport, despite protests from parents.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) members voted to introduce £490 fees for post-16 to 18 SEND students as part of its drive to cut £43m from its budget by 2019/20, bringing the charges in line with those for mainstream pupils.

County Councillor Janet Sanderson, executive member for the children and young people’s service, said there had been a legal challenge over the move, but the council’s legal advisors were confident the authority was acting legally.

“This is a difficult decision but we hope people will see that we are making every attempt to be fair, that we have listened to what families and young people with special needs and disability have said on these issues.and that we continue to look for ways to protect the sustainability of this and other frontline services,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Save SEND Services, Kerry Fox said: "Parents are finding it very difficult to understand why the services their children, young people and families rely on are being cut. We hope that central government take heed of the sweeping cuts that will ultimately impact upon the most vulnerable in our society.

"We hope that the time has come where the loophole in the law regarding post-16 transport is addressed and that we can all work together in ensuring our families are not put at a disadvantage.”