A TEMPORARY reception class will open in Hampshire due to rising demand for school spaces.

The classroom will open at Sarisbury Infant School to make space for an extra 30 reception students and will be open for three years.

Hampshire County Council said: “A substantial number of new houses have been built in the wider area in recent years attracting new families which, in turn, has created additional demand for school places in reception year, over and above what had been forecast.

“This is a particular bulge year and to ensure we can offer sufficient local spaces so that children can start at a school near to where they live, we will be installing a temporary classroom on the Sarisbury Infant School site.”

Councillor Seán Woodward said in a council newsletter: “It is important that local children, particularly primary-aged, are educated locally as possible to their homes.

“I am very grateful that the Sarisbury schools have agreed to accommodate the temporary extra group of 30 children in their schools.

“It is critically important, looking to the future, that the decision is made rapidly on the accommodation for the additional form of entry so that schools can properly plan for expansion.”