Norfolk will get no extra money to ease financial pressures that coach operators warn could mean they have to axe some services which get children to and from school.
Norfolk County Council had asked the Labour government to provide £5m to cover the rising costs of the operators it contracts to provide home to school transport, amid warnings some companies could be at risk of going because of rocketing fuel prices.
But Reform-led County Hall has been told it will not be getting any extra money.
A Department for Education official who responded to the council's plea acknowledged "the significant challenges that transport operators and local authorities are currently facing", but said there were no plans to change the usual funding mechanism for home-to-school transport.
Tom Dickerson, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "I am extremely disappointed the government has decided not to provide any additional support despite the very real challenges being faced by transport operators and local authorities across the country.
"Norfolk is particularly affected because of our large rural geography and the distances many children need to travel to get to school safely and reliably.
"We have listened carefully to the concerns of coach operators who are seeing their costs increase significantly, particularly as a result of rising diesel prices.
"Without action, these pressures risk placing further strain on services that thousands of Norfolk families rely on every day.
"I will be writing to government again, alongside local operators, to make the case for additional support.
"I am also asking Norfolk's MPs to get behind this campaign and raise the issue in Parliament."
About £20m is to transport children in mainstream education, but some £50m is for children with special educational needs, who often have to travel lengthy distances to get to the most suitable schools.
The council has a statutory duty to provide free travel to their nearest suitable school for eligible children aged five to 16.
There are also some students aged over 16 for whom the council provides subsidised transport, depending on eligibility - although the authority is controversially proposing increasing how much their families pay.
But Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, said between 2023/24 and 2025/26 the overall number of home to school transport seats commissioned by the council had increased by just 0.1pc.
He said: "Reform can't spend its time solely pointing fingers at Westminster while families are left picking up the pieces.
"If the number of seats has barely changed but the bill is rising, don't just send Westminster the invoice. Show us what's running up the meter.
"Government funding matters, and I'll continue fighting for north Norfolk every day.
"But Reform runs County Hall. It can't dodge responsibility for the decisions it makes."
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