PLANS to increase the capacity of a primary school will be put before the council in a bid to provide suitable space for children.

The Heights Primary School currently operates from a small temporary site on Gosbrook Road in Caversham and the school is at the centre of a heated debate to relocate to Mapledurham Playing Fields.

The council's policy committee will meet on April 9 to discuss expanding the school to allow it to remain on the current site for another two years.

The school is currently at full capacity and a further expansion is now needed to enable it to accommodate the latest intake of 100 new children over the next two years.

Councillor Tony Jones, lead member for Education, said: “This is a practical solution which would enable The Heights Primary School to accommodate 50 new reception children in each of the following two years, starting in September 2018, while The Heights wait for a permanent site to be found.

“The proposal is supported by both the head teachers and governing bodies of both The Heights School and St Anne’s School.

"I know Karen Edwards, head teacher of The Heights, is enormously grateful for the support St Anne’s has shown staff, parents and children at The Heights since it moved onto the temporary site in 2014.

"I would join her in thanking everyone at St Anne’s for their continued support.”

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is continuing to seek to develop a permanent site for the Heights School on part of Mapledurham Playing Fields.

The majority of people voted in favour of building the school on the playing fields, following a public consultation.

However, campaigners continue to argue that the site should remain in its current state.

Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee was advised to allow officers to grant full planning permission for The Heights Free School.