Michael Peters' statement, "very few schools affected", is a cold, uncompassionate response for teachers who have lost their jobs (Teachers Facing Jobs Axe, April 17).

School funding is based on "average", rather than actual salaries, and as a result many schools having difficulties balancing their budgets will have older, well-established staff who have served many years in the profession. Re-employment of these older teachers at the top of their salary scale is highly unlikely.

If "very few schools are affected", then it must be possible to reach out to them with more practical support. At present there is no possibility of early retirement or a realistic redundancy payment.

Long-serving teachers deserve better treatment.

Fay L Hodgson,

Sedge Rise,

Tadcaster.