EXCITING plans for a major redevelopment of a special school in Amersham have been unveiled.

An application for a brand new purpose-built block containing five new classrooms and a performing arts studio at Stony Dean School was officially made on Friday.

It would replace four temporary classrooms currently used by pupils at the Orchard End Avenue school, which caters for youngsters with learning and speech and communication difficulties.

Headteacher Pauline Dichler said: "The temporary classrooms have been here for a long time. They are very useful spaces but it will be absolutely fabulous to have them replaced by a new classroom block.

"It will have covered walkways, a courtyard which can be used as an outdoor learning space and a performing arts studio, which we've not had before.

"We're very happy with the way things are progressing and are being handled.

"The parents I've spoken to are very supportive and the children are very excited about what's going to happen. The facilities they will be using will be significantly improved."

The application has been made by Buckinghamshire County Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee, with the authority set to decide on whether to grant planning permission in the spring.

It is hoped building work will cause minimal disruption to the school's pupils, with much of it set to be done during the summer holidays.