YOUNGSTERS have been making the most of their new facilities as they start the term with a revamped school.

Pupils at Geoffrey Field Infant School returned from the summer break to a bigger and better home as Reading Borough Council continues its £61m expansion programme.

Extra classrooms, staff rooms and a new playground were all finished in time for the next intake of students this month.

Sue Farrow, headteacher of Geoffrey Field Infant School, said: "The children and staff are thrilled with the new building.

"We have five new classrooms plus there have been some internal changes. For example, we now have a much larger dining room which is really helpful.

"The new layout is already making things much easier for both children and teachers."

The neighbouring Geoffrey Field Junior School has also benefitted from extra classroom space along with a further six school in the borough.

Alfred Sutton Primary, EP Collier, Ridgeway Primary, Southcote Primary and St Michael's Primary have all seen work done over the summer break as part of the council's programme to cope with extra demand for school places.

Councillor Tony Jones, lead councillor for education, said: "I'm delighted to see the council's school expansion programme moving on apace.

"The works completed for the autumn term means hundreds of pupils and staff have been returning from the summer break to find modern new classrooms, play areas and staff rooms.

"The council was faced with a huge challenge to keep up with demand for primary school places and this ongoing programme aims to ensure every primary school child in Reading can enjoy an excellent learning environment."

So far 1,552 extra primary school places have been created and the entire scheme is due for completion by autumn 2016.