Parents in Cambridgeshire are urging the county council to reconsider plans for a shake-up of the schools system for pupils with special educational needs.

The council hopes to close four special schools in Cambridge and replace them with two "centres of excellence" on the sites of existing mainstream secondary schools.

Officials say the changes - which are in accordance with government guidelines - will mean better facilities for children with significant special educational needs.

But one parent, Claire Thrower, said: "A change of this magnitude will do actually undo all the years of work that a school of this particular class has been able to achieve."

Peer group

On Monday, the council's cabinet agreed to the proposals to shut Green Hedges, Lady Adrian, Rees Thomas and The Windmill.

The two new schools, both catering for 165 pupils aged between two and 19, would be built at Lady Adrian School and Linton Village College.

Adrian Williams, of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Where it's appropriate those children, as they get older, can share some of their classes with peers in the mainstream school.

"Indeed, children from the mainstream school can come and join the children in the special school and share with them.

"Otherwise, we find we end up with children who are very segregated during their teenage years."

If funding is approved, there will be a two-month period for objections to be considered.