Hundreds of 'vulnerable' pupils will suffer under plans to slash funding by more than £500,000, teachers have warned.


Hounslow Language Services, which helps children who speak English as a second language within schools, is to receive £517,000 less than last year as part of the council's 'efficiency' savings.


But Marylin Bater, Secretary of Hounslow Teachers' Association (NUT), claimed the move would be devastating for those affected.


"If this proposed cut goes ahead it could mean job cuts of between 16-20 frontline English as an additional Language (EAL) teachers and language assistants," she said.


"The impact would be that at least 600 bilingual pupils needing specialist EAL support would not receive any.


"It will drastically affect the ability of schools to cope with the rising numbers of pupils needing English language support across Hounslow.


"The demand for EAL support is growing with over 7,000 pupils needing English language support and 1,200 EAL mid-term admissions arriving every year. Many of these pupils are particularly vulnerable."


Council leader Peter Thompson rebuffed claims jobs are to be lost, adding that changes like these were the only way to keep council tax low in the current economic climate.


"I think the bottom line to make clear is we are taking away the extra money that the council gives to the service, it will still be subsidised by over £2.5m," he said.


"The amount of subsidies we give in Hounslow is very high. We're not closing the service down, we just want to make savings.


"It's not the case that 16 people are to be sacked. We will hopefully be able to use other methods to save money and a detailed consultation with the schools and everyone involved is to be had.


"We recognise it's a vital service it just needs to be more efficient."


As well as providing additional language teaching and support in schools, Hounslow Language Services also provides mainstream EAL teaching across the borough and multilingual support such as translations.


Cllr Thompson believes the Tory-led council should be 'applauded' for spending so much on services 'at such a difficult time' and described the fact Hounslow's council tax has been reduced from the 5th highest in London to the 15th within three years as a 'massive achievement which hits many needy people's pockets'.


The council has frozen council tax again this year, meaning a typical household in Band D will pay £1,090.65.