BUILDING work on York's new £3.74 million secondary school for children with special needs is due to finish this month.

Doncaster-based builders Strata has nearly completed the extension and refurbishment work at Applefields special needs school in Burnholme on behalf of City of York Council.

Applefields has been operating on two sites - in Bad Bargain Lane, Burnholme, and at the old Northfield special school site in Acomb - for the past year, providing places for up to 140 children, aged 11 to 19.

This came after Lidgett Grove School and Galtres School closed at the end of the summer term last year, as part of the City of York Council's plan to reorganise special school provision.

Applefields and its partner primary school, Hob Moor Oaks, were set up following a review of special needs education in the city.

Strata completed the new build element of the extensive scheme in October last year, and the refurbishment of the existing premises is due for completion this month. Following completion, the school will operate solely from the Burnholme site.

Head teacher George Gilmore said the new school will provide larger classrooms, including specialist facilities for students with profound and complex needs, such as those with autism.

Facilities will include a broadband internet connection and IT equipment, as well as a hydrotherapy pool and a new school library.

Students will also be able to take advantage of physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and nursing and medical support. The site is next to Burnholme Community College, and the school will maintain very close links with the college.

The new school building is on course to open at the beginning of the autumn term this year.

Mr Gilmore said: "The school is providing a centre of excellence for students with special educational needs in the city and beyond that in North Yorkshire."

James Porteous, the chairman of the governors, said: "We are delighted that everything has worked to time so far. It's pretty unusual these days that you get a building project that you can say that about.

"My thanks go out to the pupils, parents, teachers and anyone else to do with the school for their understanding working with the split site arrangement for the past year."

Coun Carol Runciman, the executive member for education at City of York Council, said: "It's a fabulous building. The contractor has done an outstanding job and they are way ahead of schedule - the facilties are going to be second to none."

Paul Taylor, Strata's business development manager, said: "This is our fifth contract to provide new educational facilities in York within the last four years, which is further testament to Strata's ability to deliver large high-profile design and build schemes in this sector."

Updated: 10:23 Friday, April 01, 2005