CASH-strapped Thurrock Council is poised to cut back on the number of grants it pays to young people with special educational needs or disability (SEND) to get them to special schools.

As part of its review of costs as it bids to claw back a budget shortfall of several million pounds in the coming year, the council is reviewing the payments it makes for school transport.

Already in the number-crunchers' sights are free buses taking children to school from villages near Stanford-le-Hope and a committee which will hear details of that plan next week is also being told savings can be made by targeting SEND students.

A report to the children's services committee next week will be told the council has a statutory duty to make travel arrangements to facilitate attendance at school for eligible children aged five to 16 and in certain circumstances, for young people of sixth form age and young people with education health care plans up to age 25.

The scheme offers support that means "children can gain confidence and life skills".

However, the council is not obliged to support all SEND children over the age of 16 and that is seen as a potential saving.

The report prepared by Sarah Williams, the council's strategic lead in its education support service, says: "Post 16 SEND transport does not fall within the Council's statutory transport duty, however many students meet the discretionary criteria to support post 16 travel for learning.

"Thurrock students with SEND who have been assessed as high need or have had their application for Discretionary Transport approved will be allocated a personal travel budget, which will cover their travel expenses.

"We are looking to introduce this once we have identified suitable payment systems to support young people's travel.

"Students assessed as not eligible will not be provided with free transport."