WITH regard to the educational special needs article in The Bolton News, Friday, February 23.

It is an absolute disgrace that Bolton education department wants to associate special needs and social deprivation together. Most special needs pupils have such problems as autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia - which have no links to social deprivation.

Free school meals are not a sign of social deprivation but an indication that their parents' income level is below a certain degree.

I am sure that parents would love to see the "proven method of funding is to link it to the number of children receiving free school meals", as spoken by our unnamed spokeswoman.

Why are our spokespersons always unnamed?

As I never knew that we had a school effectiveness team, and our unnamed spokesperson said nothing had been decided on its future, I suppose that we all had better get used to it not being here in the future, as it will go soon.

Peter Greenhalgh Belmont Road Astley Bridge