SCHOOLS in East Lancashire are set for a major makeover after the Government's latest round of cash handouts for crumbling classrooms.

Children with special needs will be the focus of nearly half of the new building projects which will start across the county as a result of the £2.7million programme.

The grant to Lancashire County Council, announced by Schools Minister Catherine Ashton, is the latest to come on stream from a £39million three-year schools package which is set to change the landscape of learning in the county, first announced at Christmas.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said Blackburn with Darwen had been unsuccessful with its bid for money in this round.

County Councillor Alan Whittaker, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said: "This investment represents a statement of faith by the Government in Lancashire's ability to assess priorities for improvement.

"I am sure the announcement will make a tremendous difference to many school communities.

"It demonstrates both our and the Government's commitment to Lancashire schools and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this investment in improved facilities over the coming years."

The money, which comes from the Government's Targeted Capital Fund to improve education across the country, will particularly target children with special needs, the Schools Minister Catherine Ashton said.

She added: "We are committed to improving school buildings. A clear link exists between well-maintained and well-equipped schools and high levels of pupil attainment.

"Although there is further work to be done in addressing the needs of school buildings in poor condition, the money invested so far is having a significant effect in moving us away from the patch-and-mend approach of the past."

The new grant will:

Replace poor-quality temporary classrooms and outdated buildings with modern, permanent ones

Provide new facilities to help with integration and inclusion of special needs pupils into mainstream schools, removing the need for them to attend schools outside their local authority area;

Create new buildings, including Information and Communications Technology suites.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said Blackburn with Darwen local education authority had not scored high enough to win cash in this round.