Parents have been left shocked after a college announced it would be cutting two of its courses for students with additional needs.

The College at Braintree, part of Colchester Institute, runs seven STEPS programmes aimed at those with learning difficulties or disabilities.

It will cut the first two of these from September, defending its decision by saying it is not a designated special school or college.

Jane Delderfield, who runs Braintree Autism Online Support Group, said: “I am shocked to think they could do that when there are so many people with special needs.

“If you think about the special needs provision in Braintree, there isn’t much.

“What else is there for a child or adult if they are cutting them?

“My son is 27, he can’t work, he goes to Colchester because there’s nothing in Braintree.

“People forget they will be adults one day.”

A letter sent out to parents on May 3 said the college has reviewed its curriculum in line with government and funding priorities.

It said the decision will enable the college to better support the need for jobs in construction, engineering technology and other skills priority areas.

The programmes will now be run in Colchester with an inter-site transport scheme.

A college spokesman said: “We are working actively with the local authority and feeder schools to support families in determining appropriate next steps.

“The college’s designation is as a vocational college, with a mandate to align our provision to more closely meet economic need.

“We are not a designated special school or college and when, by necessity, we continue with our much needed campus redevelopment over this next 12 months, we must prioritise the facilities that are going to ensure we are meeting our primary objectives.”

The college said only a small number of students will be affected.