Construction work is underway on a £17m school in Aberdeen.

A turf-cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion earlier this week.

The new Centre of Excellence will cater for children with additional support needs and will be built by Ogilvie Construction.

The project is being developed by the council in partnership with hub North Scotland and will be located on Howes Road.

It was designed by JM Architects.

The school will include:

• A hub for outreach services such as speech and language

• A new resource centre for ASN – teaching and training facilities

• A community hub for families for ASN parents/groups and charities to access

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• A multi-agency facility for health, education, social work and family support.

Overall, it will provide education and support for up to 150 full-time children and young people from 3 to 18 years of age with severe and complex educational and medical needs.

It will replace Woodlands School and Hazelwood School. A pre-school additional support service, currently provided in Seaton School, will also be relocated to the new campus.

Councillor Angela Taylor said: "This is such an exciting opportunity to provide the very best for our learners with additional support needs here in the city.

"The Centre of Excellence is another example of this Council's determination to build the finest school accommodation to allow all of our young people unlock their potential."

Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of hub North Scotland, added: "Today's event signals the start of construction as we create a first class facility that will enhance the care and education provision for children with additional support needs here in Aberdeen."

The new Centre of Excellence is due to be completed by April 2017.

(LM/JP)