IMPROVEMENTS to a Dales primary school have been praised by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.
Mr Sunak performed the official opening of Reeth and Gunnerside primary schools’ redeveloped Early Years classroom with pupils Eden Frankland and Eva Tweddle.
The MP cut the ribbon and a spectacular cake made by parent Janice Frankland to declare the refurbished classroom and outdoor learning area open.
Work on the new facilities at Reeth Community Primary School was completed in the summer.
The new facilities accommodate nursery and reception-aged pupils from Reeth, Gunnerside and the surrounding area.
Inside teaching and learning space has been doubled, and furniture, equipment and learning resources updated.
There is a new cloakroom and welcome area and the outdoor learning area has also been doubled.
Headteacher Gordon Stainsby said the new arrangements had numerous benefits.
These included more opportunity for interaction and play-based learning, and two distinct teaching groups (Early Years and Key Stage 1), each following their own curriculum.
The school could also now offer greater flexibility for parents of nursery-age pupils to have 15 hours of education at times that suited them and also provide for parents who needed more than 15 hours.
It would also be able to offer 30 hours of nursery education from September next year, under the Government’s childcare initiative announced in 2015.
“I am very grateful for the work that the staff, parents and governors put in to make this a reality,” said Mr Stainsby. “The new facilities transform our early years provision and the children are very much enjoying the new environment.”
During his visit, Mr Sunak spoke to many pupils, parents and members of the school staff. He said: “These are superb new facilities and will enable the school to give the best possible start for the young people of Swaledale.
“I was most impressed with caring ethos of the school, the clear leadership of the head teacher and the support provided by the local community.”
Reeth Community Primary School is federated with Gunnerside Methodist Primary School. The youngest pupils are taught at Reeth, the older pupils at Gunnerside. Every Friday, the pupils come together on one site.