A new £12 million community special school for children with emotional and behavioural problems has been given the all-clear for South Gloucestershire.

A proposal for the school in Kingswood has been on the cards since a major review of special education in the district was carried out more than three years ago.

Now schools adjudicator Dr Ruth Eade has approved the scheme, which still has to go through the planning process but is earmarked for two sites, one for primary age pupils and the other for secondary students, and should be open in September 2011.

South Gloucestershire Council has not had a special school for such youngsters since 2000, when the Filton Park Special School was shut after a poor Ofsted report.

Since then, children with behavioural difficulties have been sent to schools in Bristol and other education authorities, which is costly for the council as well as involving the young people in long journeys. Others attend the council's pupil referral units.

The £12.25m school will accommodate 50 pupils who have been given statements of special educational needs, with 15 aged between seven and 11 on a site next to Courtney Primary School in Courtney Road.

It will work closely with Courtney Primary to make sure children have full access to the national curriculum.

The other 35 youngsters, aged between 11 and 16, will be based at the site of the former Falconride Primary School in Mulberry Drive and will form part of the Kingswood 14-19 Partnership, which comprises a number of community comprehensive schools.

Students there will have the chance to get involved in vocational and work-related programmes which are supported by colleges, voluntary and community groups. The new school will also provide better continuity for pupils as many currently have to wait in referral units or on home tuition until a place in another council area's special school can be found.

Sheila Cook, South Gloucestershire's executive member for children and young people, said the council had a record of high standards in its special schools and in the pupil referral unit.

She said: "We are committed to making sure this new school achieves the highest standards for pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and contributes to their achievement.

"This is an exciting project which will bring great benefits to its pupils and the wider community and provide better value for money."