THREE schools which help the city's most vulnerable children have been earmarked for closure in a plan to integrate pupils with special needs into mainstream education.

According to Manchester's education chiefs, too many youngsters are taught in special schools, which are often miles away from where they live. This can lead to them becoming isolated from their home communities.

Last week plans were revealed to improve facilities and staffing at primary schools. But the cost would be the closure of three schools for children with moderate learning difficulties - Gorton Brook, Woodside and Richmond Park - by September 2003.

Support fears

Concerns about the level of support that would be offered in mainstream schools have already been raised.

Chief education officer David Johnston recognises that the plans, which are still at an early stage, may make parents uneasy.

But he said the number of children attending special schools must be reduced. Currently 65 per cent of children with learning difficulties are educated out of the mainstream.

''Manchester is the least inclusive of all the cities in the country,'' said Mr Johnston.

Inclusive learning

''We believe it's more appropriate for children to be educated - with appropriate support - in their own local community, where they can go to school with children who are their neighbours and their friends and won't have to travel for up to an hour to go to other schools.''

Mr Johnston said the review would build on the success of existing schools that are specially resourced for children with hearing or visual impairment or behavioural problems.

He said the plan will only be implemented after full consultation across the city and will not overburden staff at community schools.

He said: ''This isn't about labouring a busy class teacher with a difficult child. This is about ensuring the support is there for that child.

Consultation

''And schools will receive additional funding and staffing so no child would lose out. We are not rushing this exercise. We have a plan for five years. But for this plan to be successful it has to be worked through with parents, staff, communities and with children.''

Coun Mary Murphy, who is chair of governors at the Castlefield school for children with emotional and behavioural problems and deputy chair of the council's children and young people scrutiny committee, supports inclusion. But she has concerns about the implementation of such change.

She said the special schools must stay open until inclusive provision in the mainstream has been established.

She said: ''I feel passionately that children only have one chance and get one crack at the whip. If we don't get this right we have lost lots of life chances.''

Ivor John is headteacher at Gorton Brook, one of the schools already earmarked for closure - despite its successful track record.

Mr John supports inclusion but believes it has to be implemented carefully because of the range of needs associated with learning difficulties.

''I am very concerned about the extent to which a mainstream teacher - despite any support offered - can be equipped in terms of knowledge and skills to meet all their needs.

''At the very least children who are admitted to Gorton Brook have access to an extremely high level of staff knowledge, expertise and experience. How is that going to be replicated in the mainstream sector?

''I think parents are going to find it extremely difficult to come to terms with the broader perspective in the plan, because understandably they are going to be particularly concerned about their own children's needs.''