STRIKE action at a Southampton primary school has been called off after talks between the union and city council education chiefs.

The National Education Union (NEU) have been in talks with Southampton City Council over industrial action at Valentine Primary School in Sholing, which currently teaches 719 pupils.

Now the NEU has revealed that there has been “significant progress” in resolving the dispute and it has decided to suspend industrial action.

It comes after staff members and teachers took strike action over claims the school had been told it needed to make significant additional cuts to budgets, which would have meant reductions to teachers and support staff.

The union says the school is running a large budget deficit due to national and local funding decisions which has seen it lose £648,000 over the last four years.

James Ellis, regional officer said: “We recognise that these negotiations take place in the context of a national crisis where schools have lost eight per cent of funding in real terms.

“The blame for this crisis lies squarely with the government.

“We have been in dialogue with the council about the issues we believe they have the ability and influence to resolve, and with the school.

“I am hopeful that we are close to reaching an agreement which we can put to our members.

“We have suspended all planned industrial action to give us the space to do this. Talks are now at an advanced stage.”

Last month more that 30 parent and teachers protested outside the Civic Centre in Southampton.

A council spokesperson said: “Southampton City Council facilitated a meeting with the NEU trade union and the head teacher and vice chair of governors of Valentine Primary School with the aim to enable the school and the unions to reach a negotiated settlement.

“We appreciate the NEU member’s decision to agree to suspend industrial action and allow the children of Valentine Primary school to continue their education uninterrupted whilst this matter is settled.”