A MULTI million pound bid has been made to reduce infant class sizes in Lancashire in line with government recommendations that no class should be larger than 30 pupils by 2001.

Lancashire County Council's plans, which are focused on the five to seven age group, have been circulated to schools throughout the county.

County Coun John Fillis, chairman of the special educational needs sub committee, said: "Last year some 42 per cent of our infants were in classes with over 30 pupils.

"We are proposing a capital bid for 78 of our primary schools to help them achieve the government target.

"We need a total of £13.2 million to complete the task over the next three years.

"The government is already putting its money where its mouth is and we have received an extra £1 million this year."

"Under our plan we intend to meet the government target a year earlier for most children." and are determined that by 2001 no child in Lancashire will be taught in an infant class size of more than 30 children."

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