STAFF and children at Brookfield Community School are celebrating a £430,000 cash boost that will allow disabled pupils to attend the school for the first time.

The Sarisbury school has been chosen as an access school and work could start as early as the summer to make sure all facilities can be reached by wheelchair.

Deputy head teacher Matthew Leeming is delighted the school has received the thumbs up for the Hampshire County Council grant.

He said: "It means we will be more accessible for people with special needs, especially those in wheelchairs.

"Those who live locally and would previously have had to go to Portchester - the nearest school with access - will now be able to come here, which is really good.

"Anyone using the school in the evening for classes will also

benefit."

The refurbishment scheme aims to provide ease of movement for pupils with a wide range of impairments.

Existing rooms will be remodelled to create a hygiene and therapy suite, to be used for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

The multi-purpose room has been designed to allow ground-based mat exercise work, individual or small group work, counselling and pastoral support.

Food technology and textiles rooms, currently on the second floor, will be relocated to the ground floor.

External doors and heavy internal doors will be power-assisted and ramps installed.

More accessible toilets will also be built as part of the scheme.

Work is scheduled for completion in the autumn.

The scheme will be the latest in a series of improvements at the school, the most recent being a new performing arts block which was finished late last year.

The £430,000 grant has been approved by the county council's buildings, land and procurement panel.

It goes before a policy and resources decision day for rubber-stamping on Thursday, February 17.