Two special schools in Liverpool are set to benefit from a £2.1 million investment to provide extra classrooms.

A report to the Mayor's Cabinet on Friday 22 February recommends that Palmerston and Abbot’s Lea in Woolton are extended to cater for increased demand for places.

Palmerston, which teaches secondary aged children with severe learning difficulties, will get a four classroom extension to provide a post-16 centre and enable it to take on a further 48 pupils.

Abbot's Lea, which specialises in supporting youngsters with autism, will get an extra six classrooms. The investment in the site will save the city council £2 million a year as it means it will not have to send the 42 pupils on the waiting list for places next year out of the city to be educated.

-- Advertisement --

Councillor Jane Corbett, Cabinet member for education, said: "Our special schools do an amazing job providing our young people with a fantastic education.

"However, both Palmerston and Abbot’s Lea desperately need to be extended to enable us to be able to cope with the demand for places.

"This work will enable us to provide first class facilities for young people with special educational needs and it is a fantastic and worthwhile investment."

The cost of the schemes is £929,000 at Palmerston and £1,234,000 at Abbot’s Lea.

The new classrooms will have solar panels on the roof to keep energy costs low and will open in September 2013.

Kier Construction have been set a target of making sure that 65 percent of local spend and employment is within the city, with 85 percent from across Merseyside.

(CD/GK)