KIRKLEES Council has set out its definitive plans for special needs education in Huddersfield.

The council has produced its School Organisation Plan, an outline of how it will expand popular services, provide enough school places and maintain standards between now and 2008.

The plan shows the final confirmed schemes for reorganising special schools through a partnership between Kirklees Council and private companies.

The final plans are to build a new special school on the campus of Newsome High School and College.

There has been much debate about the planned siting of this school for children with severe learning difficulties.

The SOP says the school - to be named Castle Hill School - will be completed by September, 2005, and will serve south Kirklees.

Two schools which were due to be refurbished will now be completely rebuilt.

A new severe learning difficulties school will be built to replace Fairfield School at Heckmondwike.

The new school will be relocated to land next to Leeside Junior, Infant and Nursery School at Heckmondwike and will serve north Kirklees.

It should be finished by September 2005.

A new school for children with moderate learning difficulties will replace Longley School.

It will be on the same site at Smithy Lane and is expected to be complete by September, 2006.

Ravenshall School at Thornhill Lees and Lydgate School at New Mill - both for children with moderate learning difficulties - will undergo extensions and refurbishment.

At Ravenshall, the age range will be extended from 11 to 16 to four to 16.

Three special needs schools will close - Hartshead Moor Community School at Cleckheaton, Highfields Community School at Edgerton and Turnshaws Community School at Kirkburton.

Two private companies have put in bids to join the council in partnership.

A preferred bidder will be selected and the deal will be closed by the end of this year.