The pre-school and reception classes - together called the Holt – returned after the holidays to find an array of starfish, jellyfish and a lighthouse in bright beach hut colours.

The first day of the new term had a very nautical feel for the younger children at Shute Primary School.

The pre-school and reception classes - together called the Holt – returned after the holidays to find an array of starfish, jellyfish and a lighthouse in bright beach hut colours.

Over the summer holidays, a group of staff and parent volunteers, with help from Axminster Tesco community champion, Rob Cope and store manager Alistair Ryan worked hard to complete the painting and re-landscaping of the outdoor class room.

The space has now been transformed fromoriginal brick and wood to blue, white and yellow with splashes of pink and red. Local business Bradfords Building Supplies assisted with a general donation of paint and materials

and another parent contributed by building a mud kitchen on the site for the children.

Gilly Clark, lead teacher at the Holt, said: “The children were so thrilled to see their new outdoor space. It has completely lifted all our spirits, and the addition of the mud kitchen will be brilliant for the children’s play and learning.”

The work represents the first stage of the grounds project for which the school is currently raising £25,000.

The school has received overwhelming support and funds from the local community for its project and is well on the way to its target.

The next stages which are planned involve new raised beds for planting vegetables and a re-designing of another outdoor space to introduce plants, raised beds and a colourful back wall.

Axminster Tesco community champion Rob Cope said: “We were delighted to be able to assist with this local school project, which has already made a real difference to the learning and recreation environment for the children.”

Any donations for the grounds project can be sent directly to Mrs Ange Haysom, at Shute Community Primary School.