An angry dad claims his dyslexic daughter's education is suffering after special one-to-one support sessions were scrapped at a cash-strapped school.

Ellen Wigglesworth, 13, is a pupil at Parkside School, in Cullingworth - which has debts of £1 million - and she was found to be severely dyslexic when she was assessed by special educational needs staff on joining the school in September 2003.

Dad Mike Wigglesworth, 36, of Cullingworth, said his twin daughter was initially given one lesson a week to help her cope with her dyslexia in her main classes, and said her work was improving.

But these classes stopped before Christmas.

He said he believed about 140 students were affected by the reduced service which includes a special needs teacher now teaching English.

And he said he feared the lessons were withdrawn to help tackle the school's financial problems. In December last year the Telegraph & Argus reported how one full-time and two part-time teachers left to help cut costs.

"Ellen came on leaps and bounds and the changes were amazing," he said.

"We were so glad she was finally found to be dyslexic and she started to make great progress."

Now Mr Wigglesworth, a computer sales representative, is planning to write to all parents concerned to establish how many families are affected and to set up an action group.

"We are being discriminated against and we want to see our daughter and others getting the extra specialist support they need," he said.

Chairman of governors Jonathan Smith said the work of the special educational needs team was reduced because he said the 'workload changed'.

"It is not, and never has been, the wish of the school to close down this support," he said.

"The main individual in this area also happens to be a highly rated English teacher and the governors and the school seek to achieve the best of both worlds by utilising both the special needs provision and the teaching skills in balancing the full-time employment of this professional.

"This utilisation is not only supporting the current situation, but also makes best use of the skills available to the ultimate benefit of our students."

Parents who have been affected can contact Mr Wigglesworth on 07771 611504.