Our School Expansion

The exciting school expansion we’ve all been hoping for is well under way. Due to be completed by December 2023, it will add two extra classrooms to our school and replace our exhausted 1950’s lunch bar building with efficient and modern facilities. Internally, the EYFS classrooms will be remodelled to make best use of all available space. These expansion works are funded by Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council.

Here are some of the initial changes people can expect to see, that we’ve shared with the whole school community:

New layout

New Building

Replacing the lunch bar and kitchen, adding two classrooms and toilets.

closed area

Front playground closed during construction.

side playground

Still room to play!

The side playground will stay open.

lunches

Lunches will be served in the Lower Hall.

office access

School Office is accessed through the car park.

school entrance

Enter the school through the field gates.

Important changes to remember:

Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting the school site through a new gate near the existing car park gates.
The buzzer for the car park and office access will be slightly relocated and will still be in use.
A temporary, purpose built kitchen will be placed in the car park.
Break and lunch times may be staggered.
Those with packed lunch will be able to choose to eat outside or in the hall when their class is called (depending on the weather).
All children will still have their playtimes and lunchtimes and will be able to use the available play spaces across the week e.g. MUGA.
The YMCA after school club will be relocated to inside the main building and parents will drop off and collect children through the car park access gate.
Some school clubs will be relocated within the building to ensure they can go ahead.

Early morning queries can still be directed to the Senior Leaders on the gates; they will be able to contact the office if needed. The staff on each gate will hold a ‘drop off’ box for any letters etc. to be given to the office.

Please read the school newsletter to stay ahead with dates and arrangements, and note the office email address and telephone numbers to reduce the need to access the school office.

The club offer going forward will be reduced whilst space is at a premium and we are limited as to what we can safely offer. It is likely this will not return to a normal offer until next academic year when the building works are completed.

What are we doing to support your child through these changes?

We know at times when there is a lot of change we need to ensure children are well prepared, have a chance to ask questions and know how this affects them.

This term, our assemblies show photos and drawings of the site so children know what parts of the school site they won’t be able to go in and share why.
Class teams will be revisiting this in smaller class groups to ensure that worries and questions the children have can be explored further.
Classes will be able to visit the construction site during learning time so see what is going on and the construction site manager will also be answering the children’s questions.
There will be regular updates in the newsletter and the children will hear about news through whole school and class assemblies.
We have provided a photo sheet to go home to help you to talk to your child.

Thank you for your support through this time of exciting change for the school. Please come and speak to the school senior team if you have any questions.