Pre-school at Pamphill First School to move

The change, agreed by Dorset Council, will mean an existing window being altered to create a new access to a secure play area.

An approved planning consent also allows for the erection of new fencing and the building of a multi-use games area.

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The school site, which is a listed grade 2 building, dates back to 1698 and was originally a school and almshouses.

Application papers say that the pre-school has been using a sports hall with all the items needed to be removed by lunchtime each day to allow school dinners to be served, with the main school using the hall in the afternoons.

In order to give the pre-school more time and to allow greater use of the sports hall by the main school the pre-school will move into classroom 4 with its own designated, external entrance and direct access to a secure play area.

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The new multi-use games area will be created on an existing playground to the west of the building with the height of fencing on three sides to be increased and the tarmac surface replaced with Astroturf.

Said a planning agent’s report: “Whilst the proposed works are modest in scale, they will create a greatly enhance offering for both the school and pre-school, which will further enhance and secure the long term future of these unique facilities.”