Children from Years 5 and 6 at Platt CE Primary School were allowed out of class on Tuesday to watch as the first stage of construction of their new school building began.

The youngsters were fascinated to see giant cranes lift the first walls of the building into place.

Construction began last October and preparatory work on the site has progressed during lockdown with the foundations laid, but head teacher Jenna Crittenden described the arrival of the building structure as "a real milestone."

The chairman of governors Paul Vallance said: "This is a really exciting moment for everyone involved with the school.

"The team at the school and Baxhalls, our contractors, have been working really hard on the build and this stage of construction will see the building really start to take shape.”

Mrs Crittenden said: "We can’t wait to move into our new school in September.

"Our new building, sports hall, playing field and forest school will bring the facilities the whole school community really needs and will open up even more learning opportunities for our pupils.”

Platt Primary School was first established in 1846 and has been at its current site in Maidstone Road, St Mary's Platt, since 1912.

The new single-form entry school is being built on the other side of the A25, next to the village Memorial Hall.

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