MORE than £200,000 of improvements have been made to a Kidderminster special school to cater for new pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties from the defunct Alexander Patterson School.

A new therapy suite has been created at Blakebrook School and adaptations have been made to the hydrotherpy pool towards the provision of a centre of excellence for children with severe and complex learning difficulties.

The school has taken 10 children from Alexander Patterson, which closed at Easter, as well as youngsters from other schools, making a total of 64 pupils.

A ceiling had to be strengthened to enable a hoist and sling system to be fitted, allowing children with severe physical disabilities access to the pool.

Wyre Forest MP, Dr Richard Taylor, this week officially opened the new facilities which include three specialist areas - a teaching room, a bathroom management area and a multi-sensory room.

Acting headteacher, Ed Francis, said: "These facilities all have hoists and make use of modern technology to develop our children's learning experiences and opportunities.

"We now have good capacity to take other children with more complex needs."