An Essex primary school is planning to expand with a nursery to provide a "significant number" of places for young children. 

Wentworth Primary School, in Viking Road, Maldon, has unveiled the plans for a new nursery, which is set to replace a former caretaker's house at the site.

The proposed nursery will open from 7.30am to 6pm every day, with the building providing "sufficient" space for up to 21 children.

The proposed nursery could include a maximum of nine full-time staff members, and the school says this is dependent on the age and number of children.

Dawn Dack, Headteacher, insists the new nursery will not negatively affect drivers and or neighbours.

In a letter, she said: "Essex County Council has also provided sufficiency data to illustrate the demand for additional childcare places and both Essex County Council Early Years and Childcare Team and Essex County Council School Organisation Officer support this project.

"The opening hours will match the existing hours that the Viking Junior Academy currently run. This will not add any additional pressure on the local road network. The drop-off and pick-up times will be different to the school drop-off and pick-up time and should therefore have minimal impact on the neighbours."

The plans state: "It is considered there is a demonstrable need for the proposed development given the sustainable location, the existing established use on site and demand for childcare within the district.

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Furthermore, in terms of scale and design the building would assimilate with the site, and be read in this context, as a typical addition within school grounds and therefore would not detract from the character and appearance of the site or surrounding area. Furthermore, the proposal will not have a detrimental impact on parking, neighbouring amenity, or other material considerations."

Wentworth Primary School was opened in 1969 and is attended by around 440 pupils. The school's standard intake is sixty pupils in each year group.