Cash-strapped councils are attempting to fill their financial black holes by charging families of disabled college learners for transport, an FE Week investigation has found.
At least six councils across England have begun consulting on the proposals over the past year, with some asking families to pay as much as £933 per year.
Campaigners and sector leaders hit out at the “unfair” plans and accused the councils of treating young people with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as “scapegoats” for their budget-cutting measures.
They say the policy will create more barriers to education and will make “marginal” savings to councils’ growing budget deficits.
