Students at fire ravaged infant school enjoy lessons at new village base

Students whose Somerset school was ravaged by fire are enjoying lessons at a new base in the village. Around 100 pupils have had to temporarily relocate to other schools in the area after fire ripped through Yatton Infants School on May 29.

The infant school has nine classrooms – six of which were extensively damaged in the blaze. Four of the classrooms were gutted by the fire while in the other two, the blaze caused the ceilings to collapse.

A fire investigation revealed the cause of the blaze to be accidental. No one was in the school, which is part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, at the time the fire broke out.

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Four classes – around 100 children – have been moved to alternative accommodation for term six until temporary classrooms can be moved on the site. Students from year one – Elf Owls and Eagle Owls classes – have been relocated to St Andrew’s School in Congresbury .

Around 60 students in two year two classes have been transferred to Chestnut Park Primary in Yatton. Children were welcomed into Chestnut Park by headteacher Tamara Dexter and have enjoyed assemblies alongside fellow pupils.

They have enjoyed using Chestnut Park’s sports hall, forest school, and had fun reading in the school’s newly opened library. During playtimes the children can play and participate in games together.

Headteacher Mrs Dexter said: “It is our privilege to host the children of Yatton Primary School. When I first heard about the fire, I wanted to help in any way that we possibly could.

“Both Jo Keeble, the headteacher from Yatton Infant School, and I are working closely together to ensure the children and teaching teams from both schools have a wonderful term together and can benefit from our partnership.