A major project to create more spaces for children with special educational needs at a Kenilworth primary school is set to get underway this summer.

Warwickshire County Council has already backed a £113,000 spend at Park Hill Junior School to turn help transform an "underutilised" part of the building to make way for eight more SEND children.

Funding will pay for a staff admin room, calm room, reading area and toilet off the main classroom, as well as a raised outdoor play area at the Parkfield Drive site.

And an update from local Liberal Democrat councillors says the works are due to completed in time for the new school year in September.

"During the summer school holidays £113,000 will be spent at Park Hill School so that there's space for eight more children with special educational needs," it said.

"In response to our recent question at Warwickshire County Council we've been told this week that the internal refurbishment of classroom space will take place over July/August 2024 in readiness for September 2024 opening."

Schools in Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Bedworth have also been given funding as part of the county council's plans to reduce its overspend on SEND services.

A council report earlier this year showed the number of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Warwickshire has increased annually by nine per cent over the past five years, and is expected to continue to rise.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has recently revealed a massive deficit in its SEND spending, and wants to increase the number of specialist resourced provision places in schools from 200 to 500 by 2028.

Allowing children with an EHCP to be taught in a mainstream school is said to be more "cost-effective".