Bexley Council has admitted there have been “some difficulties” with special needs school transport applications this year as opposition councillors take aim at the problems being caused for vulnerable families.

Dozens of families have had to appeal for services after their applications for travel assistance for their SEN child were rejected by the council.

Labour councillors say they have had a high number of cases where families are struggling, claiming transport has been “removed”.

Cllr Wendy Perfect, Labour spokesperson for education and children’s services, said “In recent weeks, Labour councillors have been presented with a number of cases where transport has been removed from children and young people with disabilities or SEN.

“We have also been made aware of cases where transport was not in place for the start of the school term and where communication was very poor with local families.

“The council’s insistence on making savings from the school transport budget is having a real impact on families who need help to support them and their children.”

In August, 15 per cent of applications for help with transport were rejected by the council.

Out of an initial 80 appeals 13 have been subsequently given the green light, according to stats given by Labour councillors.

Of the 641 applications made to the council for transport assistance, 526 of them have been agreed, leading to opposition leader Daniel Francis encouraging families to check their legal rights through a Twitter Q+A with charity Contact.

A council spokesman acknowledged there had been some issues with transport, but denied claims services had been cut.

In a statement, the council said: “We appreciate that the SEN travel application process has had some difficulties this year. This is not a new policy for Bexley, the process that we use is in line with other local authorities and is designed to be fair to families that use the service as well as our taxpayers.

“Travel assistance services have not been withdrawn from children and young people who are eligible under the current policy and national guidance on statutory walking distance.

“Some families who have had their services reviewed this year may no longer be eligible if they are living within statutory walking distance of their child’s schools.”

The council said families affected were told of other options, including plans to “enable as ordinary life as possible” through families arranging school runs.

The spokesman added: “Children or young people are annually assessed as eligible under set national and local criteria related to ‘statutory walking distance’.

“Those who are eligible have been offered a Personal Travel Assistance Budget (PTAB) in the first instance. This gives them the chance to create their own travel solutions and offers them as much flexibility as possible.

“If the family of a child that is eligible for the service feels that a PTAB would not provide appropriate support at that particular point in time, we will offer them another option or form of travel assistance.”

It comes after the council agreed to introduce a £400 charge for families using travel assistance from next September.