An extra 236 primary school places are to be created in Hounslow after the council agreed £26 million expansion plans.

New classes will be created at five primary schools across the borough, providing 150 extra places, under plans approved at last night's cabinet meeting.

An additional 86 places for children with special educational needs (SEN) will also be provided at four centres based across five schools.

The new places are due to be ready in time for the start of term in September 2015.

Hounslow Council had already approved 300 extra permanent reception places for pupils starting school this September, plus five temporary 'bulge' classes with an additional 150 places.

Councillor Tom Bruce, cabinet member for education and HR at Hounslow Council, said: "Demand for places at our schools is continuing to rise, and we are working hard to make sure we have enough space where we need it. We are proud that despite the increasing demand for places we have always managed to meet demand and ensure enough schools places in the reception year are available for local parents and carers.

"We are also seeing higher demand for SEN places, and these plans will increase the number of places available to help as many of our pupils as possible to be educated in the borough, in the most suitable setting."

getwestlondon reported last week how Hounslow needs an estimated 6,243 extra primary school places across all years to meet demand by 2017/18.

In the last four years alone, according to the council. the number of pupils in Hounslow with a statement of SEN has risen more than 10 per cent. Special schools in the borough are full and the council says surrounding boroughs have reported similar pressure on their own special schools.

The schools being expanded from September next year include St Paul's CE Primary School, in Brentford, which is due to use Alexandra House.

Age UK vacated the building yesterday (April 1), moving to Montague Hall, in Hounslow, to make space for the new teaching facilities.

The full list of schools being expanded from September next year is:

Beavers Primary School, Hounslow West

Hounslow Heath Infant School, Hounslow West

Hounslow Heath Junior School, Hounslow West

St Mary's RC Primary School, Isleworth

St Paul's CE Primary, Brentford

The new SEN centres will be created at:

Feltham Hill Infant School

Hounslow Heath Infant School

Hounslow Heath Junior School

Strand on the Green Infants School and Strand on the Green Junior School.