MORE children in Brent with special education needs will benefit from the expansion of an ‘outstanding’ secondary school through the recycling of portable classrooms - although not in time for the September deadline.

The £1.3million enlargement of Woodfield School, a specialist sports college in Glenwood Avenue, Kingsbury, will eventually provide an additional 40 spaces, and the school will begin catering for pupils with severe learning difficulties, rather than just moderate, as well as those with autism spectrum disorders.

Brent Council’s cabinet committee approved on Monday the re-use of modular classrooms brought in to house staff and children while their The Village School, a new special school in Grove Park, Kingsbury, was being built.

Councillor Ketan Sheth (Labour), vice-chairman of Woodfield School’s governing body, said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic news that this has happened at very long last.

“This expansion programme will greatly enhance the education available to Special Needs children around Brent - and not just Brent, because some of the kids come from neighbouring local authorities as well.”

The bespoke portable classrooms were designed specifically for Special Educational Needs (SEN), featuring a double-height hall and therapy rooms for example, and the cabinet committee awarded their installation to contractor Henry Brothers, which constructed The Village School.

The cabinet committee was told in a report: “It should be noted that places are to be made available from September 2014.

“However, the earliest that the places will be delivered is spring 2015.

“The children and families department have confirmed that eight places have already been offered and accepted for September 2014.

"However these children will be accommodated by the school in a library room providing fit-for-purpose facilities.”

Mr Sheth said: “People hoped to have this on the ground many months ago and it’s just unfortunate that the timing has slipped.”