A BOOMING population and major new housing developments across the county mean pressure for school places is greater than ever.

To meet the demand, Essex County Council is planning on spending £200million over the next five years.

But in spite of this large-scale investment, there are still fears of a shortage of places for youngsters in years to come.

Of the 16,500 Essex children who started in reception class this month, more than 500 are attending a school which was not in their parents’ top four choices.

The3per cent of children who did not get a place at any of the four preferred sites were instead assigned to the nearest available school. Overall, three out of 20 parents will see their child start the term ataschool which was not their first choice.

The problem comes despite the authority creating an extra 3,150 places for the 2015/16 academic year through expansion projects.

The work continues at speed, with projects for three schools around Basildon – Whitmore Primary School; Abacus Primary School and Runwell Primary School – being signed off this month, creating 465 extra places for next year.

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “As in many areas of Essex, we are continuing to see an increased demand for school places in Basildon as a result of the population growth.

“Despite the obvious challenges this brings, we are confident of meeting this growing demand and are continuing to invest heavily in creating additional school places.”

In addition to the 3,150 places created this year, the council is looking to commissioning 2,275 new places in 2016, 3,650 in 2017 and 3,735 in 2018.

Southend Council has launched a similar scale of investment in new places.

It believes it needs about ten new classrooms borough-wide by the 2021/22 school year – each with up to 30 pupils.

Council officers ruled out building a new school, which means the demand will be met by expanding existing sites.

There are about 2,100 new births in Southend every year now, compared to 1,900 ten years ago.

Despite this huge investment, there are fears councils simply will not be able to afford to meet the swelling demand.

The Local Government Association, which represents the interests of authorities, has called on Government to do more to tackle the crisis.

David Simmonds, of the association, said: “Mums and dads expect their child to be able to get a school place where they live, but our fear is we will reach a tipping point when councils or schools cannot afford the cost of creating places or find the space necessary for new classes.

“Councils face an uphill battle creating places where they are needed when their hands are tied by red tape and they are short of money to do so.

“Councils and schools have been doing everything they can to provide school places, in some cases going to extraordinary lengths by expanding schools where possible through additional classes or new buildings.

“If councils are not given powers to open new schools we could see extreme measures taken, such as converting music rooms into classrooms and putting portable buildings on their playgrounds, which will compromise the quality of education.”

The leader of Essex County Council’s Ukip group believes not enough consideration is given to the need for school places when major housing developments are approved.

Nigel Le Gresley, councillor for Wickford, believes the town could come under increased strain when a 575-home estate in Runwell is completed.

He said: “I don’t think the planning process gives it enough consideration – we are already at capacity in Wickford and I haven’t seen anything that addresses the issue.

“This is just another problem we are going to have.”

Southend's big spend on places

SOUTHEND Council has spent £22.5million expanding its school places to keep up with the borough’s rising population.

It began its expansion programme in September 2010, creating 255 permanent reception places in schools, as well as 120 temporary places, which were funded by Department for Education grants, income from building developments and council funds.

A council spokesman said: “As these high primary numbers move up into secondary schools from September 2018, new places will be needed and this issue is in the feasibility stage with both where and how much included in these plans.

“The cost is expected to exceed the spend on primary due to specialist areas needed within the secondary schools.”

Anne Jones, councillor responsible for education, said new places had also been created this week at Sacred Heart Primary School, in Windermere Road, St Mary’s Primary School, on Boston Avenue, and St Helen’s Primary School, in North Road.

A former school in the grounds of St Mary’s Church off East Street is being opened to accommodate new pupils.

Its proximity to two derelict Victorian houses on the street has prompted the council to seek their demolition.