Work is to start on a £600,000 upgrade of infant school, including building a sensory room for pupils and installing a new fence to deter trespassers and vandals.

The contract for the improvements, which include replacing the heating system, has now been awarded by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The scheme at Shadsworth Infant School in Rothesay Road, Blackburn, was approved by councillors on the borough’s planning committee in April 2021.

Now the authority's environment director Martin Eden has signed off a £616,207.44 deal with Littleborough's Thomas Kershaw Builders Ltd.

The scheme will provide new classrooms, a sensory room, pupil and staff washrooms and community room.

New classrooms and washrooms will improve the experience of staff and children at the school, while the sensory room will be a boost to the provision at the school for children with special education needs and disabilities.

The works will also include the replacement of the existing fence with a new 2.4 metre high anti-climb mesh fence to combat trouble with trespassers and vandals on the site.

A report by Mr Eden says: "The proposal is to demolish and strip out the areas identified to the existing class-bases.

"Following the demolition of an existing class-space, it is proposed to construct a traditional single storey extension with some internal remodelling works to form a new Social, Emotional and Mental Health Facility at Shadsworth Infant School, Blackburn.

"The new department will facilitate two new classrooms, a community room, boys' and girls' washrooms and a staff washroom.

"The works include, for heating, replacement of the existing oil fired boilers and the existing cast iron radiators and distribution to the classrooms throughout the whole Infant Site.

"The proposal is to allow for new gas fired boilers and new low surface temperature radiators.

"The works also include for retaining walls, external ramp and stepped access.

"The existing heating system is dilapidated and a new efficient boiler and heating distribution has been specified.

"The Social, Emotional and Mental Health extension is a facility required to deliver a nurture/supportive curriculum to young individuals."