Proposed changes to special needs schools will be put out for public debate.

Kirklees Cabinet backed a proposal to change the specialism at Longley School and add places at Lydgate School, which may relocate to Almondbury.

Clr Peter O’Neill, joint Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “We have all visited Lydgate and saw the condition, it’s not what we want for our special needs schools and relocation is probably the best option.”

Kirklees could use £4.7m for the ‘re-provision’ of Lydgate School from New Mill to the soon-to-be vacant Almondbury Junior School.

Lydgate currently has 83 places, all for pupils with complex needs and if the changes went ahead there would be 164 places.

The proposal for Longley School, based at Dog Kennel Bank, is to change its specialism so that it becomes a school only for pupils with an autistic spectrum condition aged four to 19, creating an extra 80 places.

Longley currently provides places for children with an autistic spectrum condition and places for children with complex needs, the latter will be relocated over time.

Cabinet moved the proposals for public debate in June and July, with the outcome due in September a final decision by Cabinet in November and implementation from April next year, or September 2016 for the relocation.

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