A £70,000 centre for children with medical, behavioural and personal problems will be opened today.

The Laird Centre, named after Ben Laird, former chairman of governors at Hall Garth School, in Middlesbrough, Teesside, will be opened at the school by Mr Laird.

Richard Bain, Hall Garth headteacher, said the centre, which has been built with Government money through the Excellence in Cities and Pupil Retention programmes, will help children "in a supportive and constructive way".

The centre will employ four extra members of staff to look after children with specific problems.

Mr Bain said: "We believe that the addition of the centre to our school is a step in the right direction and gives the staff the opportunity of working with children who cannot overcome their problems alone and need specific help.

"The all round needs of children who attend this centre will be of paramount importance, and a whole range of work will be done from basic numeracy and literacy to learning for life programmes."

Designed to be used by different children for different lengths of time, from a single lesson to a full term, it will encourage parents to play a significant role.

Mr Bain said: "A very small number of children who would have been involved in serious misconduct within the school and may otherwise face exclusion, may be referred to the centre in the hope that they can be reintegrated in school.