AN SNP demand that more cash be found to fund extra specialist teachers could result in three primary schools closing and 12 staff being axed.

For months, a working group has been looking at the needs of the 9500 children in Glasgow who have English as a second language an eighth of the total school population.

At present the city council employs 140 staff to help the youngsters, some of whom arrive at school with no English.

They found that while parts of the city are well served, others have no access to specialist staff.

As a result, councillors were asked to agree they be better distributed in schools across the city.

But SNP group leader John Mason demanded education officials try to find extra cash to employ additional teachers.

Council leader Steven Purcell agreed to the request and tomorrow a number of options for raising £1million to pay for 26 more specialist staff will be presented to the executive committee.

Each of the proposals put forward by executive director of education Margaret Doran would free up £500,000. They involve: l Increasing the cost of what parents pay for nursery education.

l Closing three primaries and axing 12 staff.

l Cutting grants to play schemes and nurseries run by charities and private organisations.

l Making primary children travel two miles instead of one before being entitled to free travel.

A Labour insider said: "There is no way we support any of these cuts."

Mr Mason said of the four options put forward to raise cash: "They have deliberately chosen four nasty options to try to embarrass us. These are not the only areas where we can save money."