Prospective pupils and their parents in Colchester were given a tour of their new primary school yesterday.

Work started at Braiswick Primary School in October 2014 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The academy, sponsored by the Learning Pathways Trust, is situated on land between Braiswick Park and Fernlea and will feature 14 classrooms, eventually offering 420 much-needed primary school places.

Other facilities at the school, which is being paid for through the Government-funded targeted basic need programme and Essex County Council’s education capital programme, will include a library, multi-purpose hall, kitchen and a parking area.

Sixty reception children, who are due to start at the school in September and will be based in the Early Years building until Christmas while the main school building is completed, were invited to attend the special open day to get a feel for their new surroundings.

The tour was led by headteacher Lorraine Laudrum and her staff, as well as representatives from Essex County Council and Skanska – the construction company building the new school.

Mrs Laudrum said: “This will be a really valuable school facility for the local community for many years to come. We are excited about welcoming our first cohort of reception children in September.”

“We are really pleased with how the building is taking shape. The design is spacious and light and the school grounds have a wonderful feel to them.”

Ray Gooding, county councillor for education, added: “We plan to spend about £200million over the next five years on creating new school places across the county.

“We recognise Colchester is one of the fastest growing parts of Essex and currently have a number of projects underway in the area to create extra primary school places.”

“I am very happy to see this particular project progressing so well and look forward to seeing it coming to a conclusion later this year.”