education bosses have given the thumbs up to a controversial scheme to create extra places for special needs pupils at a leading Hampshire school.

Members of the Education Policy Review Committee backed the plan to create seven more places for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) at the Cherbourg Road School in Eastleigh.

Head teacher Julie Greer was thrilled with Hampshire County Council's stamp of approval - and said it would give the school's special needs education expertise a boost.

"It's not a done deal yet, but certainly we are very positive about it, as are a large number of the parents," she said.

"This is something we have worked very hard at, to try to support children with special needs. We do have a large number who have more challenging behaviour, and it's something we look at in terms of staff training and expertise."

But some parents have expressed doubts about the move.

In October, when the proposal was first made, parents voted 16 to 10 against providing the seven extra special education spaces.

Speaking yesterday, mum Lesley Tilly, whose 11-year-old son is a Cherbourg pupil with EBD, said: "The majority of parents were against it. No one ever takes any notice of us."

Mrs Tilly says teachers at the school are very good with EBD pupils - but their advice was ignored by the educational authorities when it was time for the children to move on to secondary school.

Neighbouring Alderman Quilley School has also raised concerns that it would have to host the special needs students when they graduate from Cherbourg but without extra funding.

But this week's Review Committee meeting heard that Cherbourg boasts an exemplary record of teaching children with significant needs.

A report stated that the ability of teachers, along with help from the county council and other agencies, would make sure the extra pupils did not cause problems for existing students.

The scheme will now be considered by Hampshire County Council's ruling executive.