Processing capacity issues at Warwickshire County Council and providers that "change their minds" were among the reasons offered for SEND children being left without home-to-school transport.

Councillors from three different groups highlighted complaints from frustrated parents who filed applications five months ago only for delays to leave them without provision from the start of the new school year in September.

At Tuesday's children and young people's scrutiny panel, Cllr Judy Falp highlighted that April applicants, "especially of children with special educational needs", had received no response by the start of the month.

She asked: "Do we know how many are waiting for decisions on home-to-school transport? If it is April and there is still no decision when they are starting school, it seems a bit wrong."

Portfolio holder for children and families, education and SEND Cllr Wayne Briggs said it was not his remit – transport and planning lead Cllr Stephen Shaw oversees this element – but acknowledged he had received "a lot of emails myself" which he had passed on to Cllr Shaw and leader Cllr George Finch.

Executive director for children and young people John Coleman revealed that the independent advocacy group that works with the council, Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, had "raised a couple of situations last week, similar to what you've just described".

"The director (of transport and economy) Dave Ayton-Hill has agreed to meet to talk about any specific cases," he added, before encouraging councillors to contact head of service Lilian Hunter with their cases.

Scrutiny chair Cllr Yousef Dahmash said it was his understanding that there were "about 500 outstanding" cases at the start of September, adding: "From what came out of communities (scrutiny), I think it is a capacity processing issue.

"At least now that we have details then people can direct queries that they get from their own residents."

However, Cllr Nicki Scott highlighted other issues.

"I also have had a number of residents come to me, saying they are stuck in the system and that nothing was in place from the start of September," she said.

"A lot of issues seem to be around the providers. They are put in place then change their minds, say that they don't have capacity or that they are not able to cope with the needs of the children.

"That is really important to look at."

It is a familiar collection of problems with Stratford-on-Avon MP Manuela Perteghella (Lib Dem) writing to Cllr Finch, Cllr Shaw and Cllr Briggs last week to highlight the "unacceptable" mix of the "sudden cancellation" of existing and longstanding arrangements, a lack of capacity and "considerable backlog" of applications.

At last week's scrutiny meeting, Mr Ayton-Hill said the council had received a "significant number" of late applications this year, more than last.

When asked about an appeal against a refusal decision not being heard two months later, Mr Ayton-Hill said it was the busiest time of year for the department, that it continued to receive around 200 fresh applications for transport per week and that appeals "can take a little longer" in August and September.