COUNCIL chiefs are set to take drastic action to curb the soaring costs of children with special educational needs. They are considering cutting the number of children who are given "statements" which set out their abilities and requirements. There are now more than 1,300 children in Bolton's schools who are receiving statements.

This is more than double the number in 1985 and there are 250 new children a year who are now having statements.

Education chiefs now want to see the number reduced to 200.

Instead, they want more money going into sorting out children's learning problems in their first years at school, before they need to start the costly statement procedure.

Councillors at a Bolton education and arts committee were told that more than £3 million had been re-directed to meet the extra demands of special needs in the last five years and another £1.6 million has been earmarked over the next two years.

Mrs Margaret Blenkinsop, Bolton's new director of education and arts, said: "It is a timebomb nationally. Bolton is not alone in having to deal with this."

Labour Cllr Don Eastwood, chairman, said: "We cannot go on like this."

But his Labour colleague Cllr Donald Grime opposed plans to cut statements.

He said: "The increase in statementing has come about because we are now getting to grips with the needs of children."

Primary schools' representative Mr Phil Buckley said that the problem was a "symptom" of underfunding in schools.

He explained that sorting out the problem in the early years at school, meant "putting a teacher in front of a class" and reducing class sizes.

Education chiefs are now going to consult with schools and parents before making a final decision.

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