A SCHOOL which holds key social services meetings in corridors has labelled its own lack of facilities as ‘totally unacceptable’.

Padiham Primary School said it needed to create two new ‘intervention rooms’ and a meeting room to deal with children who need ‘additional support’.

The extent of the overcrowding came to light after the Burnley Road school announced plans to build an extension.

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The school, which is rated good by Ofsted, said there was ‘an urgent need’ for more rooms because of an increase in dealings with social services and one-to-one tuition to help youngsters needing additional learning support.

In a planning document drawn submitted on the school’s behalf, Lancashire County Council said: “There is an urgent need at the school for three additional small rooms.

“The rooms are needed in order to cater for the increase in number and frequency of Team Around the Family meetings and Children in Need meetings.

“There is also much more involvement with social services at school and rooms need to be available for their meetings.

“In addition to the need for a meeting room, small group rooms will provide spaces so that children that need additional support can be accommodated.

“Intervention rooms will allow the extra help that some children require, who are below the national standards and below age related targets.

“There are no spare rooms in school to facilitate this group work. Some of the present need is being dealt with in corridors which is totally unacceptable”

Head teacher Stephen Purtill said: “The school has made huge improvements over recent years and has taken on an additional 50 pupils in the past three years.

“As a result of the increase in the number of pupils on roll, we need to provide additional accommodation for small group work to support children with their learning.”

Education chiefs have asked for special dispensation to build the proposed extension as the school sits on a green belt site.

The application will go before councillors in coming weeks.