A £100,000 project to refurbish the changing area of the Kingfisher Special School in Abingdon has been approved by Oxfordshire County Council.

The project involves building two single-storey extensions to accommodate a bigger swimming pool changing area, as well as a special changing area for disabled people who need more help from staff.

There will be a permanent hoist to help take bathers from a wheelchair or changing bed directly to and from the pool.

Work gets under way in September and will mean the closure of the pool until the end of the year. Headteacher Ann O'Meara said: "We are delighted. Now we will have top class swimming and changing facilities that will benefit not only our children but also other groups who use them.

"The new facilities will be a boon to our staff too in helping our pupils."

She said the existing pool was built in about 1964 and, although successful, was not designed for disabled access and special-needs provision.

Mrs O'Meara added: "Now we can offer everyone some of the best facilities around.

"We are all very excited."

Half the cost has come from the Government and the remaining £50,000 was raised over a six-year period by the school, including funds from after-school swimming lesson fees.

The school has recently undergone a £1.5m consolidation scheme to move both primary and secondary age special needs pupils to a single site in Radley Road.

There was more than 12-months of upheaval during major rebuilding work.

Previously the school was spread across four sites: Radley Road, Blacknall Road and two classes at Drayton and Kennington primary schools.

Three classes are still based at St Swithuns Primary School, in Kennington.

Kingfisher is a mixed community special school, with 80 pupils aged between two and 16, with complex and severe learning difficulties.