Isle of Wight Council is still working with contractor Southern Vectis on the allocation of paid-for seats on dedicated school buses, as fears loom that some Isle of Wight children will miss out and will face a struggle to get to class.

The new school term starts in about a fortnight and some parents have already been told their child has not been allocated a so-called privilege seat.

They pay hundreds of pounds per term for a spare place on school buses provided for children eligible for free transport - but the seats are not guaranteed.

Last year, after outcry when the number of spare seats were slashed to save cash by thw Isle of Wight Council, contractor Southern Vectis began to provide scholar-only buses on the most impacted routes.

In other areas, children have been travelling on existing commercial bus routes.

In some rural areas, however, transport is not as frequent and does not meet school start and finish times.

Parents have now told the County Press they fear children in some places, including Niton, will face a battle to get to school in September.

The Isle of Wight Council told the County Press: "The specific reference to the Niton area explores a part of the Island where the demand for privilege seats roughly equals the number of spare seats.

"At this point we need to keep working with applications to deliver services into Christ the King and Carisbrooke.

"It is not possible to discuss individual cases. However, we are in touch with parents and explained the position."

The local authority says it will inform parents, before the start of the new term, if an application for a privilege seat has been successful.

An Isle of Wight Council Spokesperson said: "We are still working to ensure that we have allocated children onto our contracted services. When that process is finished, we can confirm more of our privilege seat offers.

"Prior to September 2020 there were many more spare seats within our contract, but with last year’s rationalisation of the provision we do have fewer privilege seats than in 2019.

"Parents who want a seat for their child, and we are able to provide that seat, will hear before the school year starts if their request has been successful."

Southern Vectis's Scholar Routes, designed around school times and for students only, are expected to continue to run.