A FORMER school will re-open its doors as a specialist education hub for older children with autism and communication problems in time for next Easter.

The project, at the former Haddington Infant School on the town’s Victoria Road, which closed in 2012, was given the final go ahead by cabinet members last Tuesday.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, the local authority spokeswoman for children’s wellbeing and education, was pleased to see the final box ticked to allow progress to be made on the site.

Parents of some of the children who will attend the facility were at the meeting in Haddington Town House.

Mrs Akhtar said: “I would like to reassure parents and carers that the administration is committed to opening a provision in the county for young people who have communication difficulties.

“This project will go ahead and will be delivered.” The tender for transforming the building, which will be home to pupils between the ages of 11 and 18, has been awarded to Clark Contracts, from Paisley, ahead of Hadden Construction, Aberuthven, and Macmerry’s Hart Builders. Already £180,000 has been spent after asbestos was discovered and removed.

The new facility, which will be part of the Knox Academy campus, will cater for children and young people with needs primarily associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or communication difficulties.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council confirmed: “The authority’s other specialist provisions in Ross High School and Musselburgh Grammar School are at capacity and not able to meet the demand for places.

“The authority is experiencing difficulty in securing places in special schools outwith East Lothian.” Similarly, the local authority was keen to see as many local pupils as possible educated within the county.

Councillor John McMillan, Haddington and Lammermuir ward member, welcomed the project going ahead, with work expected to start within a matter of weeks.

He said: “It’s a much-needed resource for Haddington and for the county. As I understand it, it could be used by those beyond the county for young people to improve their life.”