THE transfer of a Rainham special school to the Hoo peninsula in 13 months is moving closer.

The Marlborough Unit in Maidstone Road is attended by more than 50 primary school children with autism and similar learning difficulties.

Now permission is being sought from planning officers at Medway Council for an extension to the Hoo St Werburgh primary school to take the pupils.

The plan includes new classrooms and accommodation at the back of the present school. There will also be a new access road and changes to the car parking facilities at the neighbouring comprehensive school.

The £1 million plan will provide links between the existing Hoo buildings, with six new special classrooms for the pupils moving from Rainham.

A council spokesman said: "These are smaller than your normal classrooms. The pupils receive almost one-to-one education."

There will be 35 new car parking spaces for the teachers, support staff and classroom assistants.

The application includes plans to build extra classrooms for 210 pupils as the school prepares for future housing in the area.