Down's Syndrome youngsters are set to lose a specialist teacher threatening their chances of staying in mainstream schools.

A lack of cash means Oxford-based Sandy Alton Britain's first Down's Syndrome teacher adviser will be out of a job within months.

She works with 60 primary and secondary teachers and pupils across Oxfordshire, helping staff better understand the condition and educational needs of young sufferers.

Without her help, some teachers may not have coped with Down's Syndrome pupils who may have then been forced into special schools. Her post is partly paid by the local education authority and the rest with fundraising from the Oxfordshire Down's Syndrome Association.

But the 15,000 council cash is about to run out after two years and Sandy is facing the axe from the post.

Sandy, a qualified teacher whose daughter Polly had Down's Syndrome and died a decade ago, said: "It's ironic that Oxfordshire was the first county to have this post and a dozen others have sprung up around the country since, yet we're going to lose ours.

"Down's Syndrome is not a subject that's tackled properly in teacher training and therefore staff sometimes just don't know how to handle a youngster with the condition. There are currently about 60 youngsters in mainstream primary and secondary schools in Oxfordshire whose teachers need this support.

"These children have made excellent progress because their teachers have a better understanding of their needs."

Sandy's job ends next August unless new money is found. Spokesman John Mitchell said Oxfordshire County Council had made a one-off payment two years ago when the Down's Syndrome Association said they could no longer fund the post fully themselves.

He said: "There is absolutely no doubt the work that has been done has been helpful but, as with all contracts, we will have to look at this again."