WORK to build new classrooms and learning spaces at a Radcliffe school is under way.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Millwood Primary Special School on Tuesday to mark the beginning of work to construct two additional classrooms, group rooms, and toilets for pupils.

The school accommodates pupils aged two to 11 with complex medical needs, severe learning difficulties and delays, autism, challenging behaviour, epilepsy, communication difficulties, and sensory impairments.

It moved to its current site in School Street in April 2012, however, with only 16 classrooms, leaders say they have been unable to meet the high demand for places.

Assistant headteacher Joanne Hurst described the development as ‘exciting’, adding: “The creation of the additional classrooms will enable a greater number of children with SEND to be included in one of the outstanding schools that delivers high quality education in a state of the art building with highly specialised educators.”

Work began on January 7 and is expected to take 26 weeks. Classes will then begin to use the new classrooms from September.

Bury Council leader Rishi Shori, who is a governor at the school, led the ceremony. He said: “All children and young people in our borough deserve to be educated in the best quality surroundings.

“It is a testament to the quality of schooling at Millwood that demand for places is so high. These classrooms will be a tremendous addition providing much needed capacity, and will be a great learning environment.”