SPECIALIST units for children with extra learning needs are under threat in Powys.

The county council is proposing to close 18 units and four pre school assessment centres for children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) which are based at primary schools across the county.

The units provide dedicated classes for children with conditions such as autism or ADHD while allowing them to attend other mainstream lessons as well as take part in wider school activities.

But replacing the units with travelling teachers, which the council says is intended to better integrate children into mainstream schooling and ensure fair access to the specialist teachers across the county, has sparked opposition from parents.

Lisa Rapado, of Ystradgynlais who is the branch officer for the National Autistic Society, said: "I believe specialist centres within schools are the way to go for lots of children who do not need to go to special schools but who have difficulties that mean they cannot do mainstream schooling all the time."

She has launched a Facebook page, 'Hands Off Our Specialist Units Powys' to connect parents across the county opposed to the council's plans.

The authority, which hopes to save £312,477 over the first year by closing the units, is running a consultation on its plans, which closes on March 17. The consultation document can be found by http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=16906&L=0"target="_blank&quot">http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=16906&L=0"target="_blank">clicking here to visit the county council's website.

The plans are also opposed by the Powys Uncut campaign, which is a coalition of campaigners opposed to cuts the council must make to save £40 million over the next three years. http://powysuncut.wordpress.com/"target="_blank&quot">http://powysuncut.wordpress.com/"target="_blank">Click here to visit the campaign blog.

The primary school units under threat are: Cefnllys (Llandrindod); Mount Street Infants/Juniors, Llanfaes (Brecon); Golwg y Cwm, Bro Tawe, Dyffryn y Glowyr (Ystradgynlais); Builth Wells CP; Crickhowell CP; Knighton CiW; Llanidloes CP; Maesydre and Oldford (Welshpool); Maesyrhandir (Newtown) and Machynlleth.

The pre school assessment units are based at Cefnllys, Llanfaes, Golwg y Cwm and Maesyrhandir.

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