Oxfordshire could save £200,000 a year by merging two special needs schools if a cost-cutting plan is approved.

According to the proposals, Woodeaton Manor School outside Oxford and Iffley Mead School in Oxford would be merged to provide one school for children with moderate learning difficulties and/or complex needs.

The change could save the authority £200,000, which could then be ploughed back into the special needs service.

The amalgamation would involve reviewing the needs of the 14 pupils due to be at Woodeaton Manor School in September.

Depending on what their parents want, some pupils could transfer to Iffley Mead. Others, who still need residential provision, might stay at the Woodeaton site.

Last year, the council delayed closing one of the schools, following protests from parents.

The latest proposals are being discussed at a meeting on January 14. Executive member for schools Tony Crabbe said: "The executive will look closely at these proposals, which seem to make an excellent job of covering all of our needs in the county.

"We will continue to have a countywide special school for children with moderate learning difficulties that will cater for at least the number of pupils at Woodeaton and Iffley Mead, with some additional places for new pupils whom headteachers have identified."

Meanwhile, secondary school provision for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties would be raised from 78 to 100 places by:

Keeping Northfield Special School near Blackbird Leys for 60 pupils and developing additional provision for 40 pupils requiring therapeutic support on the Woodeaton Manor site or

Relocating Northfield Special School to the Woodeaton Manor site and developing additional emotional and behavioural difficulties special school provision for 40-60 pupils elsewhere in the county.

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