Thank you for your question to Council concerning an alleged re-build of the William Penn Nursery School in wood. Your question has been passed to me for answering.

I will be paying a visit to William Penn as part of a programme to visit all schools in the Borough, as well us reviewing the plans and planning application file relating to the proposed PFI re-provision on this site.

However, I am assured by LEA officers and school staff that the Nursery Unit (it is no longer a separate nursery school) was rebuilt in brick a couple of years ago and not in wood.

There may be confusion with another building on the site that was recently built in wood but this is a children’s centre run by Surestart. Although on the school site, it is under separate management.

I would be pleased to give you a more detailed reply after I have visited the school, had discussion with Surestart and reviewed the planning file.