A DEDICATED special education needs provision is set to be attached to a high school in East Lancashire.

The provision, proposed at St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, Billington, near Clitheroe, is part of the larger school expansion approved by Lancashire County Council cabinet in April.

It will be one of three units, with the other two based at Fleetwood Chaucer Primary School, Fleetwood, and St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale.

On Thursday, June 9, the cabinet will be asked to approve the three units as part of a number of actions aimed at improving support for SEND children in Lancashire.

The Billington unit would provide specialist spaces for 16 secondary age children while the primary schools will offer 32 spots.

Cabinet will also be asked to consider the results of the informal consultation to expand and increase the number of school places at Thornton Cleveleys Red Marsh School and Lostock Hall Moor Hey School.

If agreed the council will start the final formal consultations that must be carried out to expand a school.

Cabinet member for education and skills, County Cllr Jayne Rear, said: "This latest set of proposals will build on our commitment to provide support to the children who really need it.

"Where possible, children should be educated within their local community and that's why we are taking steps to ensure this is possible for more children with Special Educational Needs.

"We also recognise that much needed specialist provision is lacking in some parts of the county and that is why we are planning to create a new special school to meet the educational needs of our local children."

The action cabinet is expected to take this week will mean that more specialist provision will be available across the county and so that more children will be able to receive the support they need in a school closer to their home community.