Profoundly disabled children who go to a Medway special school could be forced to complete their education hundreds of miles away because the council has run out of money.

Parents were called to a meeting a Abbey Court in Strood on Thursday to be told the secondary does not have the room for the full intake of primary school leavers.

It had been intended to move both lower and higher school to a single site in Cliffe Road where more pupils across the county could be accommodated.

But while the newly-built primary is up and running, plans to relocate the secondary from Rede Court Road have been put on hold because of a lack of funding.

This means the old building does not have enough space or provision for all of the Year 5 class due to move up in September 2019.

Abbey Court, which caters for youngsters aged between three and 19 with severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities and a few with life-threatening conditions, is the only school of its kind in Kent.

The decision could force some parents having to send their loved ones to boarding schools as far away as Devon.

It is believed a sum of £15 million is needed to build the new school, but parents believe that, in the long term, the council's cost of travel and boarding fees would swallow up this amount within five years.

Cherie and Paul Hoskins, whose daughter Grace,10, could be affected, are spearheading a campaign to get the council to release the cash.

Mr Hoskins, of Grange Road, Gillingham, said: "The school is fantastic and does a unique job.

"When Grace started there at nursery, it lifted our despair.

"She could hardly walk or talk and did not have much of a character.

"Now she can walk small distances, can understand simple sign language and can say 'mum and dad' which for us is a milestone.

"It is short-sighted of the council.and in the end is going to cost them more.

"Why did they grant full planning permission if they have not got the money?"

Mr Hoskins, 40, a supermarket manager, and also dad to Josh, 12, added: "My kids are my world. I would not have had them to send them away.

"It will mean Grace will have to stay at home.We shall be fighting this all the way."

Mum-of-two Bridget Weet, whose son Zak, nine, is a pupil,has an undiagnosed genetic disease, cannot walk or talk and suffers from epilepsy.

But his condition has changed remarkably since he joined the school at the age of four.

Miss Weet, 30, of Warren Wood Road, Rochester, said: "I was assured Zak would be at

Abbey Court until the end of his education.

"He does not understand what's going on, but we as parents are all in shock.

"Zak has a sister Daisie and they visit their dad at weekends. This would rip our family apart."

Cllr Andrew Mackness, who is in charge of children's services, said: “Abbey Court School provides an excellent education for the children who attend it.

"It has been acknowledged widely that the new primary building provides superb facilities which have impacted very positively on teaching and learning for the pupils.

"The primary building was opened in April 2017 and cost £13million which was funded from a range of sources including grants and council funds.

“Officers are currently undertaking a detailed exercise to assess the overall special educational need across Medway so a robust delivery plan can be determined to inform pupil provision from September 2019.

"There is currently no evidence to suggest there is a shortage of secondary places at Abbey Court and therefore it is not a priority to seek additional funding to build secondary facilities at the school at this time.

"Once we determine any need for future places we will decide what action to take."