School transport for sixth form and college students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could soon be scrapped under plans being considered by council leaders.

Instead, students may have to organise their own transportation using a ‘personal transport budget’ paid to them by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The plans say this will help the council rein in school transport costs.

Plans say the change will ‘continue to support the most vulnerable young people and families whilst mitigating the risk of increased pressure on revenue budgets.’

Post-16 students with SEND in the borough can currently apply for a seat on transport paid for by the council if they need help getting to school or college.

The home to school transport is provided for pupils with special educational needs by children’s services company Achieving for Children.

But the Royal Borough says it wants to ‘streamline’ the service so that post-16 students are no longer offered a seat on Achieving for Children routes.

Instead they could be given a personal transport budget of between £2,000 and £5,000 a year to pay for bus or train passes, to buy a bike, or contribute to vehicle costs.

Council plans say this is more ‘cost effective’ as the average price of home to school transport per student is currently £8,175 a year. However they admit the change could potentially have ‘negative impacts’ on equal opportunities for students with SEND.

The Royal Borough’s cabinet – its leading group of councillors – looks set to approve the plans on Wednesday, May 22.