New class at Wiltshire primary school (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

New class at Wiltshire primary school

AN IMPRESSIVE rise in the number or children joining Oaksey Primary School has resulted in the creation of its first dedicated class for its youngest pupils.

With the arrivals and departures of pupils expected in January the school's roll will rise from the 65 it had in September to a new high of 83.

The increase has led to the school bringing in Nicky Troughton to teach a group of eight reception age children every morning of the week, effectively upping the schol's class numbers from three to three-and-a-half.

Headteacher Ursula Scott explained: "Receptions were with the Year One and Two as a whole class but with the numbers going up it would have been 36 in that class and you can't have more than 30 in one class.

"It's working really well because they've got the advantage of having eight children to one adult in the morning and they concentrate on the literacy and numeracy.

"In the afternoon they integrate into the main class and they can concentrate on more play and activities with the older children.

"We had this really successful Ofsted report in April and I think on the back of that we are getting more children coming."

The school already has planning permission to build an extra classroom and hopes to negotiate with the county council for funding towards the costs.

In the long-term, added Mrs Scott, the school hopes to increase from three-and-a-half classes to four.