Over £29m is being spent by West Lothian Council on schools supporting pupils with additional support needs (ASN).
The funding, the council’s biggest ever investment in ASN schools, will ensure that schools provide the best possible learning and care environment for local pupils in the future.
The investment will see brand new state-of-the-art schools for Beatlie and Cedarbank in Livingston, with both Ogilvie in Livingston and Pinewood in Blackburn undergoing significant renovation and expansion.
Plans are continuing to progress towards delivering a £13.5m new build school to replace Beatlie School Campus, which provides specialist education for pupils aged three to 18 with severe and complex medical needs.
The proposed new purpose-built facility will be a centre of excellence for children and young people, providing cutting-edge educational facilities alongside partner health and wraparound support for children and families.
Construction work started earlier this month on a £7m replacement for Cedarbank School within the campus of the James Young High School.
The new stand-alone facility will bring up to 130 ASN pupils from S1 to S6 together under one roof when it opens in 2022.
Plans are also in motion to deliver a £5.8m redevelopment of Pinewood School and site works due to commence next month, with plans to open next year.
The works will see the demolition of the original block, construction of a new extension comprising a games hall, dining, office accommodation and additional classrooms, along with parking and access improvements.
Ogilvie School Campus is currently undergoing a £3.3m extension and refurbishment, which is due for completion in March and will include three new classrooms, a general purpose room and soft play room, as well as new outside play areas and access improvements.
Commenting, West Lothian Council’s Executive Councillor for Education, Councillor David Dodds said: "It's fantastic to see a major investment programme in our schools for pupils with additional support needs underway.
"With Ogilvie almost completed and work starting on Cedarbank recently, we have already started to deliver fantastic new facilities that will hugely benefit the whole school communities.
"We look forward to construction work starting at Beatlie and Pinewood in the near future, ensuring we have quality facilities in place for pupils who need them from all over West Lothian."
