AN INDEPENDENT adjudicator is to make a decision on Special Education Needs in the Leigh area.

Wigan's Independent School Organisation Committee (SOC) was asked to consider proposals to modernise and increase the effectiveness of SEN, but failed to reach agreement.

Following the referral, Wigan Council has maintained its promise of an inclusive education for children with special needs and pledged to invest £4.5m in new state-of-the-art facilities for them.

The revised national SEN code of practice suggests, with very few exceptions, children with special needs should be educated within a mainstream school. With more parents opting for the mainstream school system, the number of surplus places within the borough's special schools continues to rise.

Ged Rowney, Wigan's director of education, said: "We remain committed to inclusion and we have secured funding for the development of mainstream and special school facilities to ensure a range of settings are available"

Cllr Brian Wilson added: "We are following a democratic process and we will abide by the decision of the independent adjudicator. We will continue to ensure the parents have all the facts, and a real understanding of the future options for their children, whatever the decision of the adjudicator."