PLANS to completely rebuild a school for disabled children in Southampton have been submitted.

As revealed in the Daily Echo earlier this year, the £4.7million works will transform Cedar School and provide a wealth of new facilities.

If the plans are approved by the city council, construction work could begin early next year.

Pupils, their parents and staff viewed the proposals to rebuild the school in Redbridge Lane at a series of events earlier this year.

When complete, the new school will feature therapy, sensory and physiotherapy areas and a large hydrotherapy pool.

All of its ten classrooms will have its own outdoor area, while there will also be a new play area and sensory information on the walls to help students with visual impairments.

It will also benefit from a 60- metre track for wheelchair races, increased changing facilities, 30 metres of solar panels and a heat recovery system to reduce fuel bills, as well as more car parking space.

The new horseshoe design of the proposed building has been designed to maximise the amount of outdoor learning opportunities for students, The project has been funded by the Government, as part of its Priority School Building Programme.

The school, which currently has 66 students, celebrated its 40th birthday earlier this year with a special ruby party.

Speaking earlier this year, headteacher Jonathan Howells, said: “I am really excited the school is having a complete rebuild and will really be fit for purpose.

“I think the new school will support our learning ethos and help empower our students to be more independent and for us to offer support for their individual learning requirements.”

A spokesman for Kier said: “Following consultation with parents and the wider community, we have submitted our plans for The Cedar School to the council and are looking forward to receiving approval for our proposals.

“Subject to consent we are hopeful of a start on site early in 2014.”