City of York Council's plans to modernise special needs provision in the city with two new state-of-the-art schools could move a step closer next week.

Members of the council's executive will next Friday (July 12) discuss proposals to close the city's existing four special schools and instead provide two new special schools and increase the emphasis on inclusion - with more opportunities for full or partial attendance in mainstream schools.

Proposals to reorganise special schools provision in the city were devised by officers after a period of extensive consultation.

The consultation, which began in 1999, shows significant support for inclusion - giving children with special educational needs opportunities for full-time or partial attendance at mainstream schools.

The council needs to reorganise provision because parents are increasingly asking for their children with SEN to be included in mainstream schools. The situation is reflected in falling rolls. In 1996, 383 pupils were in York's four special schools. But by September there will only be 292 pupils with further falls in numbers predicted.

The proposals include building two new special schools - one for primary age pupils and one for secondary age pupils. Both of these schools will be on the site of mainstream schools. The new schools will contain more provision for children with autism and will have better facilities than the current SEN schools.

Under the plans children in the current special schools would transfer to the new schools or to alternative preferred provision in 2004 with children and parents well supported through the changes.

Murray Rose, the council's assistant director for education and leisure, said, "No child would get worse provision after 2004 than they currently get. If a child needs a special school place it will be available. If a child can be included more in a mainstream school then we will enable them to do that."

To ensure any changes happen smoothly the heads, governors and staff of all four special schools have already been closely involved in discussing the proposed changes.

Councillor Janet Looker, the council's executive member for education, said today, "I welcome these proposals. I have always believed our children deserve the best and by that I mean the best in mainstream schools and the best in special schools.

"These proposals give us the chance to build two marvellous new schools and so guarantee a special school place for any child who needs it whilst at the same time allowing us to support mainstream schools to become more inclusive.

"The best schools for providing high quality education are the schools which are the most inclusive because both factors depend upon schools knowing and valuing their pupils, having high quality teaching and learning strategies, setting realistic targets and providing high quality support."

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