DEMAND for more York placements for children with special educational needs has prompted City of York Council to defend its work.

Councillors want to send out a clear message that new residential schools are not always the best option for youngsters in need of individual care.

They were responding to an Evening Press interview with Mandy Brunskill, whose autistic son is being sent to a South Yorkshire residential school.

Speaking of the "heartbreak", she called for more special schools in York, saying the city council should create better facilities close by.

But a meeting of the council executive yesterday heard that authorities larger than York were closing down residential facilities.

Among the reasons given were that they were not cost-effective and were not always in the child's best interest.

Councillor Quentin Macdonald said: "You might have to build a facility for one or two children.

"That's not the best way forward. We need to make that clear as it is clearly not practicable."

The executive heard that the council was paying almost £2 million annually to educate and care for 31 York youngsters in homes and residential schools away from the city.

Meanwhile, the council is facing a £771,000 overspend on the budget set aside to pay for these services.

At the meeting, councillors requested detailed proposals from council bosses, in conjunction with the Selby and York Primary Care Trust, for pooled budgets for 2005/6.

They also noted that the Children's Trust Board would take a lead in trying to reduce the use of out-of-authority provision.

Members also agreed that calls should be made to the Government for funding for out-of-city placements.

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, August 04, 2004