Transport to school

Over the past couple of weeks I have been asked on a few occassions ,"My Transport for my disabled child to school has been stopped "!!!!
The first time I heard something was a friend whose son is 17 years of age had been told that from his 19th birthday untill he left school they would have to pay for transport ???
Then last week at my local carers drop in, the team leader asked me if I`d heard anything because she had a mum who was distraught about her daughter having to pay for transport to school and she was 17 years old ???
Well on talking to my friend it seems the goal posts have changed, and children in special education are having to pay for school transport from the age of 16 years .... she is so stressed and upset .They live 7 miles from the school and it will cost the family £40 per day for a taxi with an escort ... my friend doesn`t drive and her son is totally unable to make his own way on public transport.
Is this only happening in Cheshire ??? or is it country wide??
And the best bit is the parents have been notified during the summer hols ,and with effect from the September start of term ... how calous !!! But there has been no general meetings to consult families at all !!Surely that isn`t right ??