The council's executive committee is meeting on 6 May to make a decision on the issue.

The council says the shortfall was caused by the government's new funding arrangements.

Up to 40 teachers face being made redundant at 20 schools in the county because of the shortage.

If the extra money is made available, it would be allocated to individual schools on the basis of how many pupils they have.

The largest secondary schools would get an extra �40,000 and a typical primary school would receive �4000.

The county council plans to borrow money to make up the shortfall and there would be no cuts on the school's capital programme.