EDUCATION chiefs will meet tomorrow to make the tough decision on where the savings axe will fall.

Lancashire County Council has announced that £22 million worth of cuts will have to be made this year.

And it seems likely the recently formed education and cultural service department will bear the brunt of the cuts.

County Hall's budget will be reduced to around £800 million when Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen become unitary in April.

The Labour Government has given local authorities extra cash to spend on education.

But the lion's share of the savings will be made from the council's biggest spending department.

Education chiefs are refusing to say where the axe will fall and how much cash will be saved but a hit list has already been drawn up.

Deputy education chairman Hazel Harding said: "We will make a series of proposals at the meeting on Tuesday on where money can be saved.

"We have to look at a wide range of options but no final decisions will be made until the meeting.

"This is always a difficult time of the year because difficult decisions have to be taken."

The list of options drawn up by the council includes:

Putting back admission dates for five year olds; the move would mean the loss of more than 300 jobs.

Reducing funding to special schools and schools spending over their budgets.

Getting rid of free school milk for children from families on income support.

Increasing charges for school meals.

Cutting back on the number of grants paid to exceptional students or pupils with special needs.

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