A COLLEGE for young people with learning disabilities is set for a £650,000 expansion.

Eastleigh College’s College House residential campus, on Shepherds Lane in Compton, near Winchester, will begin work on a new study centre in July.

It will comprise a classroom, workshop and training kitchen, and enable teachers to offer its Skills for Independent Living students a practical training environment.

The college caters for pupils aged 16-18 with moderate learning disabilities, 14 of whom are resident there through the week, returning home at weekends and holidays. The new centre will cater for 16 students with learning difficulties, and eight not in education, employment or training.

It aims to provide work skills which will support them to progress into employment.

Rob Jarvis, Eastleigh College finance director, is overseeing the project. He said: “It’s important to develop our training facilities for all of our students. The centre will ensure that the students have the opportunity to learn relevant skills and gain knowledge, enabling them to develop as individuals, and support progressions into employment following completion of their course.”

The campus was judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in October 2013, and work is due for completion in January next year.