CONSTRUCTION has started on £5.3m expansion to a Southampton primary school which will provide extra place for pupils with special education needs (SEN).

A groundbreaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of work at Springwell School, in Thornhill.

The extension will include a new two-storey block, including eight new classrooms, separate dining and sports halls and a range of teaching and community spaces.

The project is being delivered by construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall who were joined by headteacher Jackie Partridge and the school dog, Fudge the labradoodle, at the ceremonial turf cutting. A hard hat could not be found for Fudge but the dog did wear a hi-vis jacket.

The project is expected to be complete in time for the start of the 2019 academic year.

The school, in Hinkler Road, is for children aged four to eleven years with complex learning needs.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Darren Paffey said: “It’s great to see that the next phase of expansion at Springwell School is making progress. Springwell is an outstanding school, and this state of the art development will help us provide not only an excellent education but also sufficient places for more children with special educational needs in the city.”

Cliff Kinch, area director of Morgan Sindall’s Fareham office, said: “The new facilities will create bright, spacious and modern surroundings for teachers and pupils and ensure that even more children can enjoy the start of their educational journey in a first-class learning environment.”