County Hall is looking at ways of cutting the £10.8 million it spends educating children with special educational needs outside Leicestershire.

Latest figures show that 137 children from the county are taught in other local authority areas, at an average cost per placement of about £79,000.

Although the council has several special schools, there are not enough spaces and the costs include paying for them to be taught elsewhere and transported there.

Lesley Hagger, assistant director of the children and young people's service, said: "We would like to bring down the cost of educating children outside the county where funding special educational needs (SEN) is high, especially those with complex autism.

"There may only be a fairly small number of children who fit into this category but it can cost up to £280,000 per child.

"The number of youngsters getting statements of special educational needs in mainstream schools is also rising and there is not enough provision, other than what the schools themselves support."

The county council said it was looking at a number of projects to help them educate SEN children locally.

These include developing two new facilities – one for up to 25 children with complex autism and another for those with emotional, social and behaviour difficulties.

It is not yet known where these could be.

The council would also like to create bigger teams to support children with autism in mainstream schools, and to reintegrate these children and others with behavioural difficulties wherever possible.

The costs of the proposals and savings they could generate have not yet been finalised.

A county council spokesman said: "In consultation with schools, we've agreed a broad strategy to reduce out-of-county provision and to develop specific projects for meeting the needs of learners with autism and behaviour, emotional and social difficulties.

"Where appropriate, out-of-county placements will still be used.

"If we can save money by spending less on special school places outside Leicestershire, we can redirect these resources to help more children within the county."

Dave Thomas, head teacher of Ashmount Special School, Loughborough, which has about 80 pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties, welcomed the proposals.

He said: "It's the only way forward for the council.

"It will have to spend to save and, although there will be the initial capital costs, it's sensible to do this as it will ultimately bring costs down.

"The council will also be able to commission these facilities, if they are not full, to other local authorities and bring in additional funding."