It has been a busy Halloween break in our school as a number of building projects continue.

1. School Retrofit Project

The remaining windows and doors on the oldest part of our school (the front) have been removed and replaced. They were double glazed and have now been replaced with triple glazed windows. In addition, as this part of the school is a listed building, the windows were designed as timber framed and with a mock sash as they would have been originally installed in 1956. This was achieved thanks to an old photo of the front of the school which we found.

Air tightness material has been inserted around the window openings and the windows have been finished with timber frames inside the rooms. Blinds will now be fitted in all classrooms.

2. Autism Class

Works are also nearly complete in the autism class. During the break, dividers were placed between children's individual work stations and furniture was fixed to it. Finally, some additional press doors will be inserted to finish the project snag list.

3. Classroom Storage Units

Storage units are now also being constructed in seven classrooms. These are fixed in position with sliderobe closers. It will mean that resources and materials can be stored more easily in rooms instead of a central storage area in the school.

4. Outdoors

Additional works are ongoing outdoors, including amendments to the outdoor play area, woodland area, school car park and school drainage.

Trees and willow structures have been removed for a new outdoor play structure which will be installed in spring, funded by the Parents' Association. The cut down trees have been used to make a dead hedge as a border of our woodland area. The dead hedge allows wood to rot down but is a haven for minibeasts, birds and other creatures.

We have also cleaned out the polytunnel and sandpit. The next project will be to fence off an area for our hens again.

last week, the Retrofit contractors McKeon arranged for a drainage company to clean out our storm water and waste water pipe network.

Finally, works on the school car park have begun, in advance of the opening of the Community Centre to create more parking spaces. This work will be ongoing for some time and we thank you in advance for your patience.