REDUNDANCY payments totalling £2.12 million have been given to Lincolnshire teachers within the past six months – more than £100,000 over-budget for the entire year.

And now Lincolnshire County Council is proposing to raise the amount a school will have to contribute if it decides to make teachers or teaching assistants unemployed.

The Conservative-controlled authority says this is to encourage better planning by schools and to minimise future redundancy costs.

For 2010/11, the redundancy budget of £2m has already been exceeded.

The council says this is due to schools releasing a high number of teaching assistants, plus several individual cases costing in excess of £50,000 and £100,000.

A county council report also reveals current issues including a rising number of secondary schools with "very significant deficits".

It adds that £729,000 spent this year relates to staff losses at three schools.

In 2009/10, the county council spent £1.065m on redundancy payments. This figure stood at £1.520m for 2008/09 and £2.45m for 2007/08.

County schools currently pay a maximum of two per cent of their budget towards a redundancy.

Headteachers and governors will discuss proposals to increasing this to three per cent for primary schools and six per cent for secondary schools at next Wednesday's Schools' Forum.

Any changes could come into force by April next year.

Debbie Barnes, the council's assistant director of children's services, said: "The budget for 2010/11 was set at £2 million. This was increased as the county council was aware of a number of school closures, which would result in the need for staffing reductions.

"Also, in some parts of the county, there are reducing numbers of pupils within some schools so we have planned accordingly and increased this budget. Until details emerge from the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review later this month, it will not be clear to what degree school budgets will be protected.

"There may be implications for school budgets and redundancies in future years as a result of that announcement.

"The county council runs a redeployment scheme so we are proactive in working with individuals to seek alternative employment to reduce redundancies."

Bev Marshall, National Union of Teachers Yorkshire and Midland regional officer, said the next few weeks could prove to be difficult.

Mr Marshall said: "Although schools have additional funding, that has not kept pace with the real costs of education provisions. That is starting to be felt in budgets.

"School budgets are under a lot of pressure. Teachers will be looking anxious on October 20 following the Comprehensive Spending Review."

Labour county councillor for Lincoln Park ward, Nev Jackson, said: "One thing that needs to be born in mind is that the demographic outlook shows an increase in pupil numbers."