A £1m Lottery bid is to be made by a special school in Bradford to build on the Olympic successes of children with severe special needs.

The centre of excellence - which would only be the second of its kind in Britain - would provide a much-needed arena for sport, music and drama.

Haycliffe School in Little Horton is behind the ambitious plans which were borne out of the need for better sporting facilities not just for the children attending the school but for them as young adults once they have left.

Haycliffe has 125 children aged 11 to 19 who have severe learning difficulties.

Most will never work and sport, music and drama are their only outlets.

The school has a prestigious record for its sporting achievements. At the mini-Olympics in 1996 it returned with two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

Claire Ryan, 18, took gold in the trampoline and has competed for England in a number of track events. And 18-year-old Thomas Poultan, a promising sprinter, hopes to compete in the special Olympics in Sydney.

Headteacher Keith Fair said that many of his pupils did not want to leave the school because it offered them a safe and secure environment with the support they need.

He feared that most youngsters who left at 19 would never work and many would regress into a world of television and video films.

"If we had this centre, they would be able to come back to an environment in which they feel safe, where they can get the support they need and continue with all these activities - sport, music, drama," he said.

"Many are too frightened to use sports centres like Richard Dunn and after they leave here they give up because there is nothing out there for them."

The plans consist of a two-storey building, with a sports hall, an aerobics studio, a weights room, a social area, meeting rooms, a bar, a kitchen and changing rooms.

A whole range of sports will be able to take place in the centre from five-a-side football to trampolining and archery.

The school has joined forces with Park Chapel Cricket Club, who will share the centre and offer children and young adults special training.

Planning consent from Bradford Council is now needed before the bid can be submitted for Lottery funds, as is £100,000 in sponsorship.

To date, the school has raised £20,000 from Interface and Hygenic Kitchens.

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