UPDATED plans for two new special schools in Kirklees are being recommended for approval by council officials.

The first, next to Leeside Junior Infant and Nursery School in White Lee Road, Heckmondwike, will be for 109 pupils with complex and profound needs.

The second school is a single- storey extension to the existing Ravenshall Special Needs School in Ravensthorpe Road, Thornhill Lees.

It would cater for 156 pupils and have a playground and parking for 40 cars.

The plans for both schools have already been accepted in principle.

The applications, which are to come before the council's Heavy Woollen Planning sub-committee, are to look at conditions raised when the outline applications were submitted.

Councillors will be updated on details of the Heckmondwike plan.

These include out-of-hours parking, moving a rugby pitch and details of a play area which will be marked out and brought into use before the school opens.

It was agreed as part of the council's review of its special schools that the Dewsbury one needed extensive remodelling and extending.

But some traffic and road improvements would be needed as were improvement in the pitch sport facilities.

Planning applications for new special schools at Longley and Newsome have already been submitted to Kirklees Council by building group Jarvis, the company involved in the Heckmondwike and Dewsbury schools.

Both Huddersfield schools are part of a wider £25m scheme for about 600 special needs pupils.

A new facility for 156 youngsters with moderate learning difficulties will replace Longley School and be built at the same site in Smithy Lane.

It could be open by September, 2006.

The 1960s building will be demolished to make way for the new school's play area.

The planned Castle Hill School at Newsome is designed for 108 pupils with severe learning difficulties.

It will replace Turnshaws Community School at Kirkburton and Highfields Community School at Edgerton.

Both will close in August.

The new school would be built next to Newsome High School and Sports College.

It could be completed by September next year.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Barbara Allonby visited the Turnshaws school.

She let the blind children touch her mayoral chain and robes and pupil Joshua Budd tried the outfit on.

A school spokesman said: "The mayor was great and very at ease with the children.

"And she was quite happy taking a back seat as Joshua took on the role of mayor!"