MILLIONS of pounds are to be given directly to North Yorkshire schools to streamline the help offered to children with learning difficulties.

Each of the 400 primary and secondary schools in the county will get a share of more than £4m, giving them quicker access to the funds they need.

Previously, special needs provision was handled by the county council's education service, based in County Hall, Northallerton. But after consulting with teachers, parents and governors it has been decided that the schools themselves are best placed to handle their own affairs.

Although money will be delegated to them to help pupils with special needs, County Hall will still keep the responsibility and funding for severe cases.

About two per cent of the county's youngsters face learning problems including dyslexia and dyspraxia and it is hoped the new system will help to change ways of dealing with them.

Schools used to be allocated extra funding for each named pupil with learning difficulties, but in future each school will be simply allocated a block of money to cater for the group of children who need extra help.

Head of education finance George Bateman said: "In future the labelling of youngsters with special needs will be avoided but they will still get the help they need in the school as part of provision for all children."

He said the money would be made available through a formula that took account of education performance and deprivation.

"As with any formula, while seeking to be fair, this can create individual difficulties with schools," he said. "With this in mind we are seeking to include an extra £1m to help in this important change."

Head of pupil and parent services, George McQueen, said the Government was encouraging delegation of funds to schools. He said: "We think it will improve standards because more decisions are being taken in the classroom and we firmly believe that is where they should be made."