'I've had to give up two jobs to take my sons to school'

A mum-of-three says she has had to give up two jobs to walk her sons to school after changes to her council's transport policy.

Bethan, from Bridgend county, said she now earns £1,500 less a month, which has impacted her mental health.

Campaigners against changes to school transport in Wales believe the winter conditions have made it even more dangerous for children to walk to school.

Under the law in Wales, only pupils who live more than two miles (3.2km) from their primary school are offered free transport.

Bridgend Council said its previous offering of school transport was one of the most generous in Wales, but budget pressures resulted in the changes.

Bethan, from Nantyffyllon in Bridgend county, says seven-year-old Sam, and Andrew, 10, are pupils at Ysgol Cynwyd Sant, and face a 1.5-mile (2.4km) walk to school.

"I was working on the bus as a chaperone, obviously with the cutbacks I've lost that job, and I'm a qualified pharmacy technician, but I've had to give up that job because I couldn't work around the school hours because I wouldn't get in to work until 10am and I'd have to leave by 2pm to go and pick them up," she said.

Bethan said this winter has been "tough" on the children.

"On days like today when it's raining, they get really tired and they get soaked," she said.

"It's just really hard on them, you wouldn't expect any seven or 10-year-old to walk one and a half miles in this weather and there's kids as young as five doing the same walk."

She said Andrew was a member of the school brass band.

"It takes about 40 minutes but if I'm carrying my trumpet, it's longer as it's hard to carry especially if it's raining," he said.

"I come home and just want to lie down because of the long walk."

Rebecca Smart, from Maesteg, managed to get the route from Coytrahen to her daughter's school reinstated after petitioning and writing to the council.

"The council have duty for children to get to school safely," she said.

"I believe there's no logic in what the council are doing they're just cherry-picking routes which they deem are safe."

"Today there's an amber weather warning and the expectation is our children walk to school."

A Bridgend County Borough Council spokesperson said: "Given our new school transport policy has only been implemented since September 2025, it is too early to establish the total amount of savings at this stage.

"However, our latest budget reduction proposals include an approximate projected saving of just under £1.1m split between this financial year and next.

"Our previous offering of school transport was one of the most generous in Wales but due to the significant budget pressures and unprecedented demand for services that all local authorities are facing, these changes have had to be made as part of overall efforts to achieve a balanced budget."

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, Tina Collins has submitted an 11,790-name petition to the Welsh government which will be debated in the Senedd on Wednesday.

"Learner travel needs to be updated," she said.

"The children are arriving at school soaking wet and there is no provision in schools to store their wet clothes.

"Parents want the buses back. There needs to be service for children to make sure they get to school safely, on time and help attendance."

A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: "We spend around £13m per year on home-to-school transport.

"The changes were unfortunately necessary for us to maintain affordability within future financial constraints, continue to be able to meet our statutory requirements, and maintain discretionary transport for our most vulnerable learners such as those with ALN.

"We expect to make annual savings of around £2m, but we still provide transport for thousands of learners every week over and above what is required under the Welsh Government's Learner Travel Measure.

"This alone costs us £4.8m each year, and over a third of those currently using home-to-school transport would not be entitled to transport if we didn't provide over and above what is necessary."

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates said: "Local authorities are responsible for the provision of learner travel, and we will continue to work with them. We have recently consulted on updating the guidance on learner travel, which will reflect the latest legislation and best practice, and we are committed to ongoing dialogue with campaigners, local authorities, and all interested parties."