South Tawton Primary School has recently been granted conditional planning permission to build a new nursery classroom with outdoor space at the main school site.

Currently, Little Beacons, South Tawton Primary School’s nursery, is based at the Victory Hall in South Zeal as there are no early years’ provisions available in the main school building, which has caused problems.

This has been the case for many years but teachers are voicing concerns over safeguarding as the children must walk from the hall to the school to use its facilities.

There have also been worries that the children may have trouble adapting to the main school when they enter Reception, which Shirley Culverhouse, early years lead at South Tawton Primary School, said has a very different atmosphere to the village hall.

She added: ‘We are now looking to advance our early years provision by building a nursery within the school grounds as an extension of an existing building. This will enable our youngest children to see and feel part of the bigger school and allow them to fully integrate into the school environment as one big South Tawton family.

‘Preschool children will be able to watch and learn from the older children and, in many cases, delight in seeing their siblings playing and learning in the same environment.

‘We are thrilled to have our planning application approved and are now progressing to the tender stage. Staff and pupils look forward to a future where our nursery children will be permanently on site in a purpose built classroom and outdoor area.’

The new classroom will be built in the corner of the large playground next to the road and will include a separate entrance from that of the main school.

There will also be a covered outside play area with a sink and a separate kitchen and cloakroom to the main school.