AMBITIOUS proposals to merge Tanfield School and Two Porches School to create one multi-purpose state-of-the-art special school have been approved.

The schools cater for pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD) from the ages of two-19. Both buildings, Two Porches in Gloucester Street, Atherton and Tanfield in Borsdane Avenue, Hindley, are lacking in terms of their condition, suitability and size and are unsuitable for delivering the curriculum and care required by these pupils.

The LEA estimates repair costs at Tanfield of over £300,000 and at Two Porches over £400,000. Both schools have temporary accommodation that is in a poor state of repair and is inappropriate for children with SLD.

The deficiency in floor area -- over 1000 square metres -- means that specialist facilities are either inadequate or non-existent, for example medical and therapy accommodation, specialist subject rooms, hydrotherapy pools and undersized halls.

Plans are to close both schools in August 2005 and re-open a combined school, catering for 165 pupils aged two-19, at the Tanfield site in September 2005.

The LEA has already submitted a bid for £5 million from the Department for Education and Skills for the new school which has been approved by Wigan Council's Lifelong Learning Panel and the School Organisation Committee.

The new £6 million school will offer a range of new facilities which, as well as benefiting children with SLD, will improve the delivery of subjects such as music, drama, science, art and PE.

LEA director of education Bob Clark said: "Both Tanfield and Two Porches have already encouraged and nurtured a wide range of community links, including work-related learning placements. The proposed positioning of the new school on the Tanfield site allows these links to be preserved and built upon."