A schools boss says he does not believe the proposal to close a school for the blind is controversial.

Temple Bank School in Daisy Hill Bradford, is the only school in Yorkshire solely for visually impaired children.

But its future looks bleak as its pupil numbers have dwindled to only 47 and it is projected to be more than £100,000 in the red next year.

Education Bradford wants to close the school and send three to 11-year-olds to their nearest primary schools, where they would qualify for extra classroom support.

Those with additional disabilities as well as visual impairment will be offered places at other special schools in Bradford. The school was earmarked for closure in 1998 when it had 57 pupils but won a reprieve after a huge public outcry, backed by a 35,000 signature petition.

But last night David Mallen, chairman of the Bradford's Education Policy Partnership (EPP), told an EPP meeting: "The possibility of closure is not controversial, there is recognition that alternative provision needs to be made."

The EPP was considering the latest report into specialist provision for pupils with visual impairment.

The proposal to close Temple Bank is part of a wider reform of the special school sector, which could see further school closures.

Director of education, Phil Green, said putting children with special needs into mainstream schools could bring greater social interaction and responsibility for all pupils and a removal of the stigma of people with disabilities.

He added that many European countries, such as Italy, had not had special needs school for 30 to 40 years.

"We haven't talked about the positive effect of children in mainstream schools, of the total inclusion of children with special needs," he said.

A proposal that a fuller report should be compiled about the Temple Bank closure plan was made by teachers' representative Jane Rendle and accepted by members. That report will be considered at a future EPP meeting.