Katie Brayne, 43, from Iver, and her husband were left “stressed out” when they found out they will have to pay £308 a month to get their two children to school after Buckinghamshire Council refused help with the bus costs.

Both Katie’s children will go to the Chalfonts Community College in the new school year, but the Council has said the college is not considered the nearest school of choice for her 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.

Katie said Chalfonts is “better suited” for her daughter, who is an existing pupil there and waiting for an autism diagnosis, and her dyslexic son.

The nearest school is Pioneer Academy, a Sikh religion school, which is not an option for Katie, an atheist.

With only days to go for the parents to find a solution instead of the over one-hour-long journey on a regular bus, Katie said she was “an emotional wreck” after trying to find a solution. 

She explained: “I don’t want my children to go to any faith school, whether Sikh or Church of England. Children have to do RE as part of their GCSEs. The school [Chalfonts] has now said they will give her the support.

READ MORE: Carousel PickMeUp bus service expands to Flackwell Heath

“Chalfonts has worked hard with us to understand their needs.

“Pioneer doesn’t suit her needs. It’s a big ask of people that age. Chalfonts are willing to give her learning support without the funding.

“They [Council] are discriminating for not having a faith. I don’t see religion as a good thing for me.”

Although working parents - Katie works full time and is a carer for her sister while her husband is an estates manager and relies on the family's car - they can’t afford the cost of the bus due to their increased mortgage and “huge outgoings,” Katie said.

She said some parents in a similar situation were planning to use credit cards to pay for the fee, but this wasn’t an option for her.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m borrowing my sister’s disability car next week but after that I don’t know what is going to happen.

“The response from different people has been just copy pasted regulations, I just need someone to help me.

"There are so many different areas the council is failing. It’s ridiculous," she added. 

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for transport Steven Broadbent said the authority considers parental preference and if a place can be offered at the “nearest school if it had been listed as a preference.”

He continued: “Ms Brayne has chosen to send her children to Chalfonts Community College but the nearest school to the home address is the Pioneer Academy. 

“A place could have been offered at the school if it had been listed as a preference. As both Ms Brayne’s children could have attended a school closer to home than The Chalfonts Community College, then under the home to school transport policy, free transport provision is not provided to a school which is further away and is parental preference.

“Although Pioneer is a Sikh faith school, it welcomes learners of all faiths and those with no faith. The Local Authority are still in contact with Ms Brayne and trying to help her find the best solution for her children.”

He said parents who feel they have exceptional circumstances for transport entitlement could challenge the decision online. 

Have you been affected by school transport issues? Let us know below or by emailing noora.mykkanen@newsquest.co.uk