PARENTS who were relieved to hear of a council u-turn over school bus supervisors have now learned that their free travel will be cut altogether.

The county council had planned to cut funding for escorts to monitor the behaviour and safety of pupils on their way to school, but has agreed that some can stay after a consultation.

However, parents are now facing the news that free travel to school will be cut completely for pupils starting faith schools in September 2012.

Julia Willis, 41, sends her seven-year-old daughter Ruby from their home in Barn Mead, Theydon Bois, to St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Loughton.

Ruby is entitled to free transport because the school is the only Catholic one in the area.

But Mrs Willis said she may not be able to send her younger daughter Charlotte there, as the free transport will have been cut by the time she is due to start.

“A lot of the parents rely on the school transport and it’s got financial implications,” she said. “St John Fisher is quite a big school. If all the parents were of the same mindset and couldn’t afford to send their children there, it’s going to put a lot of pressure on admissions for other schools.

“The Catholic ethos is the main reason I’ve sent my oldest daughter there.

“It’s quite disappointing. I suppose it’s an easy win for the council.”

Dave Hill, the county council’s executive director for schools, children and families, said in a letter to parents that it was not required by law to provide free buses to faith schools.

"There are currently tremendous pressures on Essex County Council's budget," he said. "We have completed a significant review of our home to school transport policy to ensure the current policy is equitable, supports the most vulnerable and provides the best value for money.

“The statutory entitlement to free transport will remain unchanged.

“Essex County Council will continue to provide school transport to faith schools, negotiating the lowest costs possible on behalf of parents.”

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