THE parents and carers of disadvantaged children over the age of 16 will be told to pay for school transport, under changes approved by Thurrock's ruling councillors.

School transport will also no longer available to children who are within walking distance of a school which has places available.

However, another controversial proposal that children of families who have lived in temporary accommodation for more than three months would have to change schools was rejected.

At a meeting of the authority's cabinet senior Conservative councillors voted in favour of the cuts, which mean pupils aged 16 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will be required to pay the cost of transport for post-16 education.

The decision may have particular impact on families whose children attend the renowned Treetops Special School in Grays - which takes pupils from across the borough. However. exceptions - depending on circumstances - may be made.

Education portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies (whose report to the meeting can be viewed in full from the 16 minute mark in the embedded video) told the cabinet: "The benefits for changing this policy are that children who travel independently have access to the same opportunities as their peers, improved physical health, decreased reliance on specialist transport parent carers, improved contributions at school, opportunities for students to go out with friends and join clubs, more opportunities for these students to go to college and find jobs.

"I would reassure colleagues that these changes will not mean as of September 1, all free transport will stop.

"Each person will be assessed and if their disability means they still need transport we will provide this free of charge."

He added that other students would be offered a place on the council's "independent travel training course" which will give them the "skills" to make their own way to school.

Councillors considered also telling families who have lived in temporary accommodation for more than three months that their children will need to transfer to a school nearest to the home they have been placed in but proposal was rejected.

Tory councillor James Halden criticised Labour leader Councillor John Kent for being "very vocal in the press" over the changes but not attending the cabinet meeting to ask any questions.

Had Mr Kent attended, he would not have had any power to vote or sway the decision of the cabinet as he is not a member.

Mr Halden continued: "From a broad policy perspective it is a healthy and responsible thing to do to encourage learners with special educational needs and disabilities to become independently mobile.

"It is not healthy to keep them apart from the mainstream world."

He accused the Labour group of putting out "confusing" messages that could lead to young people not applying for what they are entitled to.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Kent said: "The council has consulted on these proposals and a clear majority of residents rejected them – as did the Children's Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

"I'm calling on the Conservative Cabinet to do the same and throw these heartless proposals out."

Councillor Bukky Okunade, Labour spokesperson for children, said: "We have a laudable ambition, as a council, to 'enable vocational and academic education, skills and job opportunities for all'.

"How will charging our post-sixteen special needs students for transport help achieve that vision?"