MORE than £2 million in government funding could be ploughed into special educational needs schooling in York.

City of York Council is hoping to secure £2.4 million from the government's Targeted Capital Fund for an expansion programme at Galtres School.

The expansion is part of the reorganisation of schools throughout the city which will see three special schools close and two new ones open.

By August 2004, Fulford Cross, Northfield and Lidgett Grove special schools will close. They will be replaced by a new primary special school built as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme at Hob Moor School.

Galtres School will also close and will be reopened as a new secondary school.

The governing body may also change the name.

The reorganisation includes an increased emphasis on children with less severe special needs pupils going into mainstream schools.

If the council secures the government funding it wants, it will be combined with £1.3 million worth of council money for the expansion.

Murray Rose, assistant director of education, said: "We will be building an extension at Galtres as it would need to take more children. It presently has room for 70 pupils and will have about 120 children on the site.

"Part of the money would extend the building and improve some of the facilities, including a bigger and better hydrotherapy pool and a library."

The council is not guaranteed to get the money and will have to use funding from other areas if its bid is refused.

Mr Rose said the money could come from selling off assets such as the buildings at Fulford Cross and Northfield schools, but it was hoped that the money could be used for upgrading facilities in the new schools. The council is expected to find out in the next few weeks whether it will be given the money it is seeking.

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, March 08, 2003