CHILDREN at the village primary school in Culmstock have celebrated the opening of an extension to the building.

The Foundation Stage unit will accommodate pre-schoolers and Reception class children after the pre-school moved from the village to the school site.

The extension includes a new classroom, large cloakroom and activity area, creating ‘free flow’ for the children.

Headteacher Emma Francis said: “It’s a very exciting change and will give the children a really smooth transition to school. Children can start with us at three now and have their whole primary education with us. There’s not that change at five any more for them – they will know their school, they will know their teachers and they will know familiar faces. It will be really lovely for them.”

The money for the extension came as a result of a housing development in the village and he work was carried out by local developer Nicholas King’s firm Greenview Developments, which worked over the summer holidays to have the building ready for September.

The extension was officially opened on Friday and Emma added: “We had a really lovely morning – all the parents attended, the older children came to look after the little ones, we had cake and cut the ribbon, and we all applauded.”

The school, which has 130 children, with another 14 in pre-school, has vacancies in Reception and in the pre-school.