A Norwich youth project and school renewed its plea for a contract to be reinstated yesterday as more talks were held with Norfolk County Council.

Both the council and Future Education, which is fighting to stay open after an academic contract for alternative education was withdrawn, said the meeting had been constructive.

Future Education faces a funding crisis after Norfolk County Council put its alternative education for years 10 and 11 out to tender. A contract for vocational education was awarded to a national provider but money for academic education, which Future Education provides, was withdrawn.

While Norfolk County Council has pledged to see the current year 10 pupils through to year 11, it will leave staff with no security and the school, which helps pupils who have dropped out of mainstream education, with an uncertain future. Ian Johnson, chair of the trustees at Future Projects, said: 'Representatives of Future Projects met county council officers this afternoon to clarify further how the decision was made to recommend the withdrawal of the funding of the education service and to seek a resolution to the problem. Our primary objective is to achieve the reinstatement of the academic lot and we continue to work constructively with the county council to seek to find a way forward.'

In its mission statement for its Save our Future Education campaign, the Evening News is calling on Norfolk County Council to reinstate the academic contract for Future Education so it can continue to do its unique work for the children. Norfolk County Council said in a statement: 'We had another constructive meeting with representatives from Future today and understand that their trustees are meeting to consider their position. We have explained in detail how we reached our decisions and we have clarified a number of points which they have raised with us.

'There are a number of children across the county who are awaiting news on arrangements for September and we are keen to let them know as soon as possible what they might be.

'We have agreed today that a further meeting would need to be held later this week, subject to the outcome of the Future Trustees meeting tomorrow.'