Cash to help recruit teachers will be given to Essex primary schools - then taken off them again.

Members of the county council's children and education services select committee were told the new funding had to be given out at first but then, to spend it more effectively, it will later be pooled.

Rene Morris (Lab, Lt Parndon and Town Centre) condemned the system as "absolutely absurd".

The funding for 2002/2003 - amounts to £2.2m.

Published Monday January 14, 2002