THE company which runs a school bus service for disabled children has been forced into a U-turn after refusing to pick the youngsters up from home.

The CT Plus bus service, which is contracted by Waltham Forest Council to transport children from Leyton to Whitefields School and Centre in Walthamstow, told three families they must meet at a pick-up point in Capworth Street each morning to ensure the service “operates in the most efficient manner”.

But the families were left outraged and claimed it was impractical to have their children with complex needs waiting in the street with no shelter.

Alvina Yousef, 29, found it impossible to push both her son, Mutaytab, in a wheelchair, and her baby in a buggy and resorted to keeping her son off school.

Before the U-turn was made this week, she told the Guardian: “There is no way I can take him to the bus stop with the buggy and the three bags he uses for school.

"I am also really worried about him waiting in the cold because he has been very ill and is prone to infection.”

Judith Tuitt, 43, of Capworth Street, Leyton, who has a nine-year-old son with autism, said at the time of the decision to stop visiting homes: “I am very upset and angry. We just want fairness for these children with disabilities.

“The council says “every child matters”. But who is this change to the services helping? Our children, or the driver?”

But after the parents complained to children's services at the council and Hackney Community Transport, which runs the CT Plus service, the bus company was forced to perform the about turn.

Miss Tuitt said: "I am very pleased. The decision wasn't thought through properly and was forced on us.

"Someone from the council contacted me today and apologised and said they were in the wrong for making the decision without contacting us first."

A council spokesperson said: "The council has discussed these concerns with CT Plus who operate the service and have been assured the matter will be resolved and home collection will resume."

CT Plus has a seven-year contract with Waltham Forest Council, which started in 2004.