A SPECIAL school in Swindon has finally reopened to pupils nearly a week late after delays caused by flood repairs.

Nyland School in Nythe was due to have opened for the new school year last Tuesday, but this was put back.

It did open on Friday but was still dirty from the repair work so the children were treated to a day out at the Cotswold Water Park to mark their first term day.

A cleaning company was brought in to blitz Nyland over the weekend so it was finally ready for lessons yesterday.

The school had suffered more than £20,000 worth of damage due to the flooding in July.

Headteacher Paul Sunners said: "The school has undergone extensive repairs over the summer.

"Quite a number of floor areas had to be replaced. The floor hall is still in a sorry state and will be replaced in October.

"In order to commence the school year, we thought we would take the children out for a jolly good day in Cotswold Water Park, rather than wait for Monday.

"We are up and running at this stage.

"It is unfortunate that we had to delay opening but unfortunately consequences arose that we couldn't plan for."

And he said pupils were delighted with their excursion on the first day back.

"I've seen lots of smiley faces," said Mr Sunners.

Nyland is one of a number of schools in the Swindon area, which received varying levels of damage, and one of just 21 nationally, which failed to open for the new school year on time.

A spokeswoman for Swindon Council said: "Parts of Nyland Special School were damaged during the recent flooding.

"Some flooring was affected and a build-up of dirt was left behind by the waters.

"Pupils were delayed from going back because of the final cleaning operation."

Other Swindon schools affected by flooding included South Marston and Mountford Manor primaries, Ruskin Junior, and Headlands and Churchfields secondaries.