Work has got underway to create a support centre for pupils with complex needs at Galashiels Academy and a new nursery at St Boswells Primary School.

The new £625,000 facility at Galashiels Academy will provide a dedicated learning environment in the heart of the school for children with complex and difficult learning requirements.

It will be located adjacent to the dining and PE areas to enable increased access for these pupils to wider school activities.

The centre will have its own dedicated entrance to accommodate varied access times if required.

The new extension at St Boswells Primary will see a dedicated early years centre provided for pre-school children.

The £600,000 centre will have its own entrance and is designed to encouraged outside learning and play. The extension has been designed to accommodate 40 children and will help Scottish Borders Council meet the Scottish Government’s initiative to increase the provision of free early learning and childcare provision.

The design of both facilities is by the council’s own architects’ team, who also carried out the design of the new Leader Valley School in Earlston in February 2017, while the contractor for both projects is Hawick-based firm James Swinton & Co.

St Boswells Primary’s early years facility is due to be finished in April 2018, while the support centre at Galashiels Academy is due to be completed by May 2018. Special procedures are in place to ensure the safety of staff and pupils during the construction period at both schools.

There are also parking restrictions at Galashiels Academy during the construction phase, which staff, parents, pupils and visitors have been asked to adhere to.

Councillor Carol Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “These are exciting developments for both schools and will provide significantly improved facilities which will help our young people to learn.

“I look forward to seeing the completion of both projects in 2018.”