AN East Lancashire headteacher today rejected claims that special needs schools were bad for disabled children and said: "We are not separatist."

Bob Whittaker, head of Northcliffe school in Blackburn Old Road, Great Harwood, spoke out after a leading charity said Government plans to back specialist institutions would lead to discrimination.

The Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education has warned that keeping on special needs schools under the Government's new strategy -- called Removing Barriers to Achievement -- will increase prejudice.

But the headteacher criticised the findings of the independent education charity and said he wanted to save specialist schools in East Lancashire.

Mr Whittaker fears his 65-strong school could disappear under a merger headed by Lancashire County Council.

He believes special schools already enjoy healthy levels of integration with mainstream schools but argues special schools are still needed to help pupils with difficulties.

The county council is reviewing special needs provision and has consulted with parents over the possibility putting more special needs children in mainstream education.

The plans would mean White Ash, in Oswaldtwistle and Northcliffe would merge to create a senior school, closing one of the existing sites. Broadfield, in Oswaldtwistle, would become a primary school for all disabilities, instead of a school for children with moderate learning difficulties, as it is at present.

Mr Whittaker said: "Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools are not about being segregational or separatist.

"We work very closely with Norden High School in Rishton for example. A number of our students attend there for lessons and we exchange lessons with them.

"We have even launched an initiative to encourage more co-ordination with timetables so that the two schools can have certain subjects like maths at the same time so that pupils can swop schools more easily.

"I hope the idea will really blossom and take off. Our top priority is to be positive about integration."

The national charity said plans to retain separate schools was against the long-term interests of disabled people. A spokesman said: "Segregated schooling does not lead to inclusion. It perpetuates discrimination, devaluation, stigmatization, stereotyping, prejudice and isolation.

"Disabled adults identify these conditions as the biggest barriers to respect, participation and a rewarding life in mainstream society. The Government has supported segregation for too long."

The Removing Barriers to Achievement strategy backs both an inclusive strategy and the development of segregated special schools.