DISABLED children's legal right to special lessons is being removed, according to an angry headteacher.

Speech and language therapy services provided at Grangewood Special School in Eastcote have been cut following a 'rescheduling' decision made by Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare.

John Ayres, headteacher of the school in Fore Street, said: "It has taken away speech therapy lessons for children who have a legal entitlement to it under their statement of special education needs. The parents of these children are certainly not pleased and made it clear in a meeting with healthcare trust officials."

At that meeting, parents expressed shock and upset at the lack of consultation.

Chris Woods of Anderson Close in Harefield, whose daughter Georgina attends the school, said: "I'm bitterly disappointed as there was no proper consultation and it's still quite vague on how this will pan out."

According to the trust, the move will improve services to children with disorders of communication or who have problems feeding or swallowing.

A trust spokeswoman said: "There are certainly no cuts. We are merely targeting the more needy children and improving the service. It's the joint responsibility of the Local Education Authority (LEA) and the trust to meet the requirements of a statement of special education needs and we are currently assessing the views brought up in the meeting."

Although some 35 children will have their teaching time cut, Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare is trying to reassure parents before the scheme is extended.