People are to be asked their views on new proposals for the education of deaf children in Bradford.

Education Bradford last year drew up two plans to teach more pupils with hearing problems in mainstream schools.

And last night members of the Education Policy Partnership (EPP) agreed that a third scheme, put forward by Thorn Park School for the Deaf, in Heaton, would go for consultation.

This includes two Deaf Centres of Excellence, one foundation and primary and one secondary, which would be schools in their own right and would have strong links with mainstream schools.

They would be located on a mainstream school site which would allow pupils access to more of the national curriculum.

The two proposals by Education Bradford were for an all-age specialist school with links to other support centres or a specialist primary school with links to other schools and increased provision for deaf pupils in mainstream schools.

Deaf children are currently taught at Thorn Park School for the Deaf, and specialist teaching is provided at Girlington Primary School and Nab Wood School, in Cottingley.

EPP board chairman David Mallen said there were still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the new proposal.

"I'm happy to go and look further at this new model that's been put forward as I do not want us to be seen to agree to something and then realise it's not what we initially hoped for," he said.

Board member Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) said he was pleased a third option had been put forward.

A further consultation period, during which schools, affected bodies and parents will be asked their views, will be held and the results put before Bradford Council's executive meeting in the summer.

Education Bradford's proposals are part of an overall review of special educational needs in the district.

Earlier this month the Telegraph & Argus reported how six new special schools are due to open in September 2007. The three primary and three secondary developments will be built alongside existing mainstream schools.

Among them will be a 110-place primary at Guard House, Keighley, and a 100-place secondary at Greenhead High School, Utley.

Formal notices have been issued to close the ten existing special schools in the Bradford district, including Braithwaite and Branshaw in Keighley.