Sidmouth Herald
4 November 2005

School to get £450k revamp - by Andrew Coley

Dilapidated mobile classrooms will be replaced with a purpose-built facility at Sidmouth Infants School as part of a £450,000 improvement scheme.

The project also includes the replacement of toilet blocks that were built in the 1930s.

Hilary Williams, head teacher, said the changes would improve the children's security, as it will mean they will no longer have to go outside to go to the toilet.

She said: "Although we have some indoor toilets, there are some that are away from the main building and children could be there and you would not know so it is not very safe.

"It will be good to have them inside. "The classrooms will replace two mobile ones, on of which is 20 years old and the other is 10.

"Both are in poor condition and the new building will make it so children do not have to go outside for the toilet.

"it will also mean our children will be taught in properly-built, decent classrooms.

"The ones they are currently using are very cold in winter and very hot in summer and there is a lot of condensation."

Planning for the project began in 2001 and the school has been waiting for its turn in the capital building programme.

County Councillor Stuart Hughes, who is also a school governor, said he was delighted the scheme was about to start.

He said: " At last, this is what the school has been waiting for.

"They have been down this road before when there were many tenders but they were all above the budget.

"Now it is all systems go at long last and the school will benefit from two state-of-the-art classrooms built for children in the 21st century for 21st century learning.

"Everybody at the school is excited about it and the children will benefit immensely.

"This is really good news. The work will be done by Skinner and that is good news that a local company is doing it, as it is good for the local economy.

"I look forward to the day it is ready."

Cheryl Paterson, who runs Otters Childcare After School Club from the site, also welcomed the news.

She said: "The development will mean there will be better toilet facilities nearer to where we operate in the school and we will get more storage as well."

The official start to the work takes place next week with Mr. Hughes cutting the first turf.

The work is expected to take five months to complete and it is hoped that pupils will be able to use the new facilities by the start of the summer term.