By Melina Cannon

BUILDING work to build a new £2-3 million school on the former Moatfield Middle School site could start within weeks.

The new school, a one-storey L-shaped building, will cater for about 350 pupils and is due to open in September 2003.

Headteacher Bill Ivory said it was estimated the school would take 60 weeks to build and would include a nursery, reception classes and three classes in each year group.

It will be sited on Moatfield's playing fields with the entrance off Matchborough Way.

The head said the school would have environmentally friendly features.

There are plans for a footpath on one side of Matchborough Way and a crossing manned by a lollipop lady.

County council officers will use a School Travel Plan to encourage pupils to walk to school.

Mr Ivory said plans were in the pipeline to offer children with speech and learning disorders therapy in a social setting at a unit on the old Claybrook site.

The county council's planning committee gave outline planning consent for the school on January 22 and approved detailed plans last Tuesday.