CHAGFORD Primary School has reassured parents that the Foundation Stage Unit provision will be an 'integral part' of any new school development.

The school has come in for criticism from a group of parents after the Education Funding Agency announced that they intend to demolish the current school building and replace it with a new building on the school's playing fields at a cost of £2.6-million.

There have been fears the new building will be smaller and not include a pre-school Foundation Stage Unit.

On November 4, the school hosted a public meeting regarding the plans. In a statement published after the meeting, the school said: 'Both the Education Funding Agency and Devon County Council have confirmed that the Foundation Stage Unit provision will be an integral part of the Priority Schools' Building Programme for Chagford Primary School moving forward.

'This has been a key objective of the school's governing body, from the outset of our engagement with EFA, and we are delighted to share this news.

'We are grateful to all those who have expressed their support and thanks following the meeting and look forward to continuing to ensure that Chagford Primary School delivers outstanding education for all our pupils, now and in the future.

'We will continue to keep parents and the wider community informed as soon as we are able.

'Please could we ask that all enquiries relating to the programme are directed to the school in the first instance to ensure that we can provide all stakeholders with consistent and timely information moving forwards.'