Schools across Kirklees and Calderdale are to get extra cash.

Education officials have confirmed they are to allocate millions of pounds over the next three years.

That should enable several schools to go ahead with expansion plans.

Local MP, Jason McCartney has welcomed the news that the Government has announced an extra £2.35 billion to create more school places.

It is in addition to the £5 billion that is already being spent in this parliament.

The allocation means that between 2014 and 2017 schools in Kirklees will receive £14,879,875.

Calderdale is to receive £5.3m over the three years. Leeds is to get a huge £58.3m while Bradford will receive £26.5m and Wakefield £8.9m.

The money is part of the Government’s long-term plan to give every young person the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

It is the first time that councils have had three-year allocations of funding to spend on school places, so Kirklees Council can plan ahead and ensure every child has a school place.

Colne Valley MP Mr McCartney said: “The last Labour government ignored the fact that rising birth rates meant we will need thousands more school places in the coming years, and did nothing to prepare.

“It is great news for young people in Kirklees that this Government has found billions of extra funding to ensure every child has a place at school so that they can fulfil their potential.

“This is part of our long-term plan to create an education system that gives young people who want to work hard the skills they need to get on in life and have a more secure and better future.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “Labour were warned repeatedly that they hadn’t done enough to plan for a growing population – and once more it’s been left to the Coalition Government to clean up the mess.

“We have more than doubled funding for new school places and we are also setting up great new free schools, which are giving parents a choice of high quality school places in areas Labour neglected.”