Parents of children at a special needs unit in Aberaeron have joined those from Aberystwyth in calls for Ceredigion County Council to rethink potential changes to school transport that “plainly disregard” the needs of pupils.

Last month, the Cambrian News reported that concerned parents of autistic children at Llwyn yr Eos school in Penparcau have raised objections to potential changes in school transport services that the youngsters will “struggle to cope with”.

Ceredigion council is currently undertaking a tendering exercise for school taxi and transport services for children with additional learning needs, including autism, and have written to parents and carers to make them aware.

Parents at Llwyn yr Eos school, which has a dedicated special needs centre, insisted that if changes are made to save money it would harm the children who “thrive and live by routine”.

One parent of a child at Aberaeron school’s special needs unit Canolfan y Môr said parents there are also “furious about this change”.

“We have vented anger at the council on many occasions recently about this issue, which plainly disregards the child’s special needs and shows no sympathy towards these children and their autism,” the parent told the Cambrian News.

“Although the council says that there will be no change to the service, obviously this is not the case as it shows a complete disregard and ignorance about autism and how crucially important routine is to them and all because, in the eyes of those who hold the purse strings in Ceredigion County Council, ‘money is obviously more important than a child’s welfare’."

A council spokesperson said: “Making sure that children and young people have the best type of transport to school is very important for the council.

“We also need to comply with the law when buying services like transport, by doing so in a fair and open way.

“The needs of children and young people are carefully considered and we make every effort to solve any issues that could happen when there are changes to the service.

“A change in service providers should have no impact on the level of service.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now