A specialist school in Tunbridge Wells can now start preparing for the second phase of its expansion plan set to cost £2.4million as further progress has been agreed by Kent County Council (KCC).

Broomhill Banks School, which caters for young people aged between 11 and 18 with special educational needs (SEN), was granted permission to increase its pupil intake from 210, to 318 in June last year.

After a meeting by the Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee (CYPE) on Friday, the school in Broomhill Road can now start looking at plans to build the accommodation needed to cater for the extra pupils.

This comes amid a growing demand for special school places in the county, particularly those with autism, as 40% of children and young people with an educational health care plan have the spectrum disorder as their primary need.

KCC will provide the £2.4 million needed for phase two under the Basic Need Funding, and in return the school will provide the accommodation and resources needed to admit the new pupils gradually over the coming years.

Phase one of building works, approved in June last year, have now finished and cost around £1.6million.

With phase two set to start in September and finish in summer 2022, the total cost for the expansion once all works are complete will be £4million.

Proposals show while new pupils will gradually start at the school, the changes will see class sizes reduced.

It will also see the provision and enhancement of sports facilities.

For each new learning space provided, KCC will give the school £6,000 towards the cost of furniture and equipment.

In addition, an allowance of up to £2,500 could be given to install each new classroom with IT equipment such as projectors and touch screen displays.

KCC says it will monitor progress regularly during the building works to ensure the accommodation needs are being met.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells