A SCHOOL is set to see its playground transformed with the help of a developer.

Heybridge Primary School will have its outdoor space around the village school upgraded with the held of Persimmon Homes Essex.

The developer has donated £3000 to the school, which will go towards the purchasing of sails to create shaded spots for children in the summer and resurfacing part of the playground.

The school has said it has been a struggle in the past during the summer when they have no shade in the playground.

The parent, teacher and friends’ association had been fundraising to upgrade the outdoor space and now, with the funding, the school is about to see one section of the playground resurfaced.

Headteacher Simon Waltham said: “We are blessed with a huge outside space for our children to use during lessons and at break times.

“However, we have no shade and when we have 400 children out there in the summer, it can be a real struggle.

“We have an excellent PTFA who run a significant number of events throughout the year. Without their work we would not be able to undertake this project.

“The donation from Persimmon is amazing and it is hugely appreciated. It will make a massive difference to what we can offer our children. We would like to say a big thank you to Persimmon.”

Funding was made available through the housebuilder’s community champions scheme, designed to create a lasting legacy within the wider community.

Persimmon also donated copies of their fiction book Cones and Building Homes which follows four traffic cones as they learn about construction site safety for the children to take home and enjoy with their families.

Matt Atton, land director of Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “We are proud to support great causes in those communities in which we are working and invested in”.

“We heard the school needed a helping hand to bring their project to fruition and were delighted to be able to offer a donation.”

Persimmon Essex have plans to develop a site in Heybridge, creating 281 new homes to meet local demand including 120 homes which will be transferred to a Housing Association partner.