New Early Year Unit opens for Cirencester Primary pupils (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Revamped reception classrooms at Cirencester Primary

3:04pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in School News By Charlotte Shepherd

CIRENCESTER Primary School opened the doors to its new Early Years Unit this week with a little help from children’s favourites Iggle Piggle and Peppa Pig.

The TV characters were on hand to welcome the reception class children to their new classroom, which has been transformed over the summer from two separate classrooms into one integrated space.

Sally Duffield, leader of learning for reception and Year 1, said: “We have knocked down the wall and re-designed the space to make it much more accessible, exciting and brighter. Both classes will now be mixed up more together throughout the day. We have created different zone areas in the class including literacy, art and discovery zones.

“Parents are really excited about it and other local schools have asked to visit us to have a look at the space because this is the way forward. This sort of integration really helps children with their confidence.”

Work was carried out with some help from volunteers, including Mrs Duffield’s husband and father who painted the unit. Dobbies garden centre also donated flowers, bark and plants for the new outside space.

Parent Charlotte Brown, whose daughter Georgia started school in September, said: “The new area is fantastic. The fact that children are all integrated together is working really well.”