Contractor James Swinton & Co has started work to create more than £1.2 million of new facilities at two schools in the Scottish Borders.

A new £625,000 facility for pupils with complex needs is being developed at Galashiels Academy,while a new £600,000 extension is being built onto a nursery at St Boswells Primary School.

At Galashiels Academy, the project will provide a dedicated learning environment in 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. In addition, the centre will have its own dedicated entrance to accommodate varied access times if required.

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Elsewhere, the extension at St Boswells Primary will see a dedicated early years centre provided for pre-school children.

The facility will have its own entrance and is designed to encouraged outside learning and play. In addition, the expansion has been designed to accommodate 40 children and will help meet the Scottish Government's initiative to increase the provision of free early learning and childcare provision.

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.

Cllr Carol Hamilton 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."

Image: CGI of Galashiels Academy support centre.

(LM)