PLANS to permanently expand a primary school and to create new places for children with special educational needs have been passed by councillors.
Proposals have been drawn up to extend West Acton Primary School, in Noel Road into space at the back of West Acton Community Centre. It will be done without demolishing the existing building or requiring users to move.
The decision was taken because of the pressure on school places in Acton.
The expansion is subject to consultation in the spring. If it goes ahead, it will create an extra 30 places per year group from September 2013.
In addition, East Acton Primary School, in East Acton Lane, will take in 30 extra pupils this year and next year.
Councillors at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (21) also agreed to fund 30 new places for pupils with autism at the new high school planned for Greenford. This new provision will be attached to the main school, on the site of the former GlaxoSmithKline leisure club in Oldfield Lane North.
Children's services head Councillor Patricia Walker, said: “We're experiencing an unprecedented number of applications for primary school places. Not only are more babies being born in the borough, but more people are also staying in Ealing and opting to send their children to our schools.
“This is a testament to the high standard of our schools, but it is creating challenges. We are meeting these challenges head-on with an ambitious programme of expansions in the areas that need it most."
