WORK has been completed on a new specialist school

Practical completion of the Newfield School Autism Specialist Facility on the former Crosshill School site has been achieved.

In a report to go before a Blackburn with Darwen Council forum meeting next week, executive member for education, Cllr Maureen Bateson, said: "The £5.6m Newfield School autism specialist facility will see pupils enjoying a sensory space, multi-use areas and a new hall and kitchen facilities linked through a corridor into the existing Newfield school.

"The school will be ready to welcome pupils after the October half term."

The centre is set to offer 22 new places for pupils with autism and incorporate the existing 38 at the school.

Demand for specialist educational support for children on the ASD spectrum had increased since 2,000 due to improvements in diagnosis of the condition.

The unit will tackle a shortfall in the council’s provision for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

The multi-million pound autism centre with space for 60 children and 40 staff was approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council in July 2016.

The 10-classroom building, which was originally estimated to cost £4.3million, will be run by staff at Newfield Specialist School and has been built on the former Crosshill School site opposite Shadsworth Leisure Centre in Old Bank Lane.