Exclusive by Alan Quick

THE long-awaited expansion programme for Hayward’s Primary School in Crediton is at last getting under way.

The project consists of the complete refurbishment of the Old Youth Centre building, construction of two new purpose-built classrooms, a Multi Use Games Area and extension to the school kitchen.

The project will start with the refurbishment of the Old Youth Centre Building, creating suitable spaces for practical work including cooking facilities, an improved hall space, some smaller group rooms and a new Community Room which will eventually be available for use by school groups, community groups as well as Crediton Children’s Centre groups.

The Children’s Centre staff will enjoy a permanent office hub for their operations once they have negotiated the upheaval of continuing to occupy the building during the refurbishment work.

All Children’s Centre sessions will run as usual and contact details remain the same, ensuring that children and families in the community can continue to go to the groups that they enjoy, and have the support that they want.

Kirsty Brett, the School’s Business Manager, said: “The contractors, Classic Builders, have already moved into the building and work will start slowly during the next two weeks while they create a safe area for the Children’s Centre staff so that they can then work on the rest of the building.

“Once the initial phase is complete, the Children’s Centre staff will relocate to the other end of the building so that phase two can be implemented.”

She said that the work is scheduled to be completed in the Youth Centre in early May 2017.

Kirsty added: “Once the Youth Centre work is under way, the builders will move round to the back playground to begin work on constructing our two new classrooms and Multi Use Games Area.

“The new classrooms will link to the existing classroom block at the end of the playground providing essential additional space for the growing number of children expected to need school places over the next few years.

“The Multi Use Games Area will provide an all-weather play surface for sport and lunch time activities, enabling the children to have access to outdoor play throughout the winter when the school field is out of action due to mud.

“Classic Builders has also agreed to work with the school to maintain access to our Tanglewood Forest School area throughout the build project so that children can continue to benefit from the opportunities provided by our outdoor classroom and pastoral leaders.

“Classic Builders has indicated that it anticipates completing the classroom extension during May/June 2017 and the Multi Use Games Area a few weeks later.

“Expansion work for the school kitchen will take place during the summer holiday and will not affect the provision of school meals during this school year.”

Kirsty added: “As this is a project that is unlikely to happen again at Hayward’s, the school and Classic Builders are keen to use the opportunity for developing curriculum links so that pupils are able to engage with the project as part of their learning during this year.

“This may involve maths investigations around materials needed for the project, design work to create Health and Safety posters or maybe literacy work planning a press release for the opening of the new classrooms.

“It is expected that despite the potential difficulties of running a school next to a building site, the experience will be a positive one for everyone involved.

“We hope that any disruption for our neighbours around the school site will be kept to a minimum during the works. The school would also like to express their enormous thanks to Father Wheaton at St Boniface Roman Catholic Church for his support and also that of Cllr Frank Letch, our Mayor, both of whom played a part in getting the project underway.

“We are sure that this co-operative working relationship between the school, the church and the contractor will continue throughout the building programme.”

Head Teacher Mrs Emma Summerfield, said that the scheme was being paid for by Devon County Council and the estimate for the complete works was £950,000.

She said: “The work will enable us to increase capacity at the school from the current number of pupils, which is 365, to 420.

“This will accommodate natural growth, which is increasing year-on-year, and we very much look forward to having the extra classrooms which will accommodate two classes per year group.”