Consultation is to continue on the sensitive issue of including pupils with special education needs in mainstream schools.

Last year, the county council's policy on including special needs children was criticised by the Oxfordshire Secondary Heads Association and staff at several special schools, including Fitzwaryn School, in Wantage.

Staff at Woodeaton Manor School and Iffley Mead School, which were threatened with closure, were also critical of the council.

Parents of pupils claimed mainstream education was not suitable for their children and that they faced a long bureaucratic battle to get their children specialist education.

On Tuesday (May 13), the council's executive board agreed that there would be further consultation with schools, governors and parents, before any major decisions were taken.

Dr Marjorie Evans, who chaired a review panel which prepared a report for the executive, said: "We see the role of the special schools being enhanced, linking with mainstream schools much more strongly and flexibly.

"Early intervention is a means of avoiding developmental difficulties and we're looking at the changeover in the long term from the exclusive model to the inclusive model."

Woodeaton Manor and Iffley Mead schools could still be closed, according to one of the proposals put forward in a consultation document, but other options are also being presented, including amalgamating the schools.