PLANS have been revealed to develop a school for older children with special educational needs (SEN) in Thornbury.

Education bosses at South Gloucestershire Council have submitted a planning application to transform the existing New Siblands School site on Easton Hill Road into a state-of-the-art facility for older children.

The new SEN secondary school will be specifically designed for up to 45 students aged between 11 and 18 years.

The £5 million project will include a brand new two-storey building, refurbishing the existing school building, removing terrapin buildings as well as creating an astro turf area and hard court play area.

The plans are the second phase of a larger £16 million project to re-build Gillingstool and New Siblands primary schools at Gillingstool.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council’s children and young persons department said: "As part of the council's commitment to giving every child the best possible start in life, plans have been put in place to transform school provision in the Thornbury area, particularly for those with special educational needs.

"Construction work on a £16million scheme to rebuild Gillingstool and New Siblands primary schools on the Gillingstool site is well underway and plans to remodel the existing New Siblands site as the secondary department of the school are continuing to progress.

"We have now reached the stage of submitting a planning application for a £5m scheme, which would see the current New Siblands school site extended, refurbished and landscaped to cater for 11 to 18-year-olds with special needs.

"The building would be fully equipped to cater for a range of special educational needs and will include new classrooms and specialist facilities along with sensory and woodland zones."

A public consultation on the school’s designs ends on Friday, February 12 and a decision is expected to be made in April.

To see the plans in full visit www.southglos.gov.uk