PLANS to axe special needs teachers have been put on hold to allow more time for consulting teachers and parents.

Lancashire County councillors decided not to finalise the scheme to lose about 100 staff from their pool of travelling specialist teachers. Instead, they will decide early next month.

They plan to get rid of more than half their special needs teachers, who travel around schools throughout the county, and give headteachers the cash saved to hire their own staff.

Bob Allonby, secretary of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NUT, believes children will lose out as few schools will have enough cash to hire a teacher and none will have access to a whole pool of specialists.

He said he was pleased the plans had been publicised in the Evening Telegraph, and urged teachers and parents to make their views known before a decision was made.

He said: "This policy of delegating money will result in a ridiculous outcome. We are pleased that there has been a pause for consultation and thought."

Mr Allonby, a teacher at St Bartholomew's CE School, Great Harwood, added: "Parents have not seen these plans yet. Parents with children with special education needs will be particularly interested and we think they should see the proposals."

Education chairman Councillor Hazel Harding said every penny saved would be passed on to schools.

She said: "We are giving headteachers the freedom to decide what services best match the needs of their pupils and I believe it is the professionals who have daily contact who are best placed to know their needs."

A county spokesman said parents wanting to examine the plans could ask for them at their children's schools and send their comments to County Hall.