Education chiefs have moved to reassure parents after concerns that children may have  to stay in temporary buildings longer than planned.

The children at Thomasson Memorial School, a special school for children who are deaf, had been moved out of the normal school building after a leak caused water damage in January and were moved into Halliwell UCAN Centre and the Girl Guide Headquarters in Shepherd Cross Street.

Bolton Council is now set to vote on approving the use of the UCAN Centre and Girl Guides HQ as a school until at least December 31, but officers have moved to assure parents that this is a precautionary measure and they still expect pupils to start the autumn term as normal.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Work at Thomasson Memorial School remains on track to be completed in September, and the school is looking forward to welcoming pupils back for the start of the new academic year.

“The application to extend the use of the temporary buildings is just a precautionary measure in the highly unlikely event that work is delayed by unforeseen circumstances.

“We would once again like to thank pupils, families and staff at Thomasson Memorial School for their patience and understanding while the repair work has been carried out.”

The Bolton News: Children have been taught in the Halliwell UCAN Centre since January Children have been taught in the Halliwell UCAN Centre since January (Image: Google Maps)

The Halliwell UCAN Centre was adapted for educational purposes after the children were moved there in January.

But this meant that community activities at the UCAN Centre ended and regular users including former mayor Cllr Linda Thomas have since expressed their dismay after it was confirmed that services will not be returning.

As it stands, the plans allow for 51 children to be taught on either side of the entrance of the building into the Christmas period, while the Girl Guiding HQ will tackle overspills.

The documents put before Bolton Council back up the prediction that children will be brought back to normal schooling soon and says that officers expect the temporary buildings to be vacated long before December 31.

Bolton Council’s planning committee will meet to decide on whether to approve the extension today.