THE age range of children attending Westminster School, Rowley Regis, is being extended to include seven to 11-year-olds.

The Rowley Learning Campus school, which caters for children with learning difficulties, disabilities, emotional and communication problems, currently only caters for pupils aged 11 and above.

Cabinet Member for Children and Families Councillor Bob Badham approved the decision to extend the school after the public consultation in January and the decision is going before the cabinet this week.

No objections were made during the public consultation held by Sandwell Council about the school teaching Key Stage 2 children. A spokesman for Sandwell Council said: “The proposal would create a maximum of twenty additional pupil places across the four year groups, years three to six, with effect from April 1, 2012.

“It would allow for an offer to parents of specialist educational provision for children with moderate learning difficulties in Key Stage 2.”

The spokesman added: “It would also allow for more young people with moderate learning difficulties and other associated needs to be educated within the local authority rather than be placed and transported elsewhere, thereby contributing to the sustainability agenda.”

There are currently 90 pupils at the school but there is room for 160 pupils at the newly built school on the Rowley Learning Campus.

Westminster School headteacher Debra Williams believes the school is set to thrive with the new intake of pupils.

She said: “The Westminster School believes that we can provide a better quality of education for our pupils when we work in partnership with pupils, guardians, carers, governors, the Local Authority and the wider community.

“Everyone wants our pupils to achieve the highest possible standards of education and personal development.”

She added: “Our new “state-of-the-art” school building at Rowley Regis offers outstanding facilities for our pupils. “As we are co-located with St Michael’s C.E. High School and Whiteheath Education Centre and this enables us to make the best uses of resources available and to share appropriate inclusion opportunities.”