COUNTY Hall bosses have been left delighted after a new school has opened in Maldon enjoying a bright start to its first term.

Limebrook Primary School and Nursery opened its doors at the start of autumn, welcoming pupils to the new site.

The site, which includes a 420-place school and 56-place nursery, was one of three new primary schools which have opened in Essex this term.

The school said in a post on social media said the first full week of school was a “whirlwind of laughter, discovery, and boundless energy” that filled classrooms and playgrounds.

It continued: “The children have settled in well, one or two have found it difficult at first but have then settled in well and had a great time of fun and learning.

“Each day children eagerly dove into their learning adventures whether it be writing letters, practising counting or learning to play collaboratively with their new friends.”

Construction teams were at work over the summer months, finalising works to what Essex County Council has dubbed “much-needed education infrastructure to support the county’s growing population”.

Other sites were Chapel Hill Primary School and Nursery in Basildon, which is also a 420-place primary school and 56-place nursery, and Beaulieu Park School in Chelmsford, a 420-place expansion onto second site.

The schools were then handed over to the relevant Academy Trusts before welcoming their first pupils at the start of September.

The council also said each school has been built to the “latest environmental standards”, helping to meet its net zero commitments.

Tony Ball, Cabinet member for education excellence at Essex County Council, said: “We want all young people in Essex to have access to high-quality education facilities and this means we need to ensure that the available infrastructure keeps pace with the growth of the county.

“These state-of-the-art education facilities will create hundreds of new school places in areas where they are much needed, and the brand new buildings will ensure children have the best possible learning environments while also helping us meet our environmental aims.

“These are hugely exciting projects, and I am delighted we’ve been able to invest in the future of Essex, benefitting young people in Maldon, Basildon and Chelmsford.”