PARENTS of Reception and Year Three pupils at Hockley Primary School are “feeling relieved” after it was confirmed they would return to the school site...despite other year groups being sent elsewhere.

The primary school, in Chevening Gardens, has been in a race against time to put plans in place for the school year after the installation of a series of modular classrooms was delayed.

It comes after the school was ordered to shut in June by the Department for Education after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved concrete was found in the ceiling - sparking safety concerns.

Despite delays to the installation of new modular classrooms, yesterday the school confirmed that Reception children and youngsters in Year Three will be using two classrooms on the site that are deemed “safe”.

One parent, whose child will be starting in September, said: “I am relieved to hear this update from Hockley Primary School.

“Even though I am still disappointed with the lack of firm updates from the school as it has taken all this time, I am happy that I do not have to live in the unknown anymore and can now go out and buy his uniform.”

Similarly, a Year Three parent said they are “really grateful” their child will not be affected, and the announcement has taken “a massive weight” off their shoulders with no longer needing to stress about making arrangements with work.

Other year groups, however, have not been so fortunate and will be sent to nearby schools in Hockley.

Yesterday, school bosses wrote to parents to confirmed that Year One and Year Two pupils will be learning at Plumberow Primary Academy, in Hamilton Gardens, and Years Four, Five and Six, will all be going to Westerings Primary Academy, in Sunny Road.

Both schools also took children for the final term of the last school year after the school’s closure.

In the letter to parents, the Academies Enterprise Trust, which manages the school, said it is now hoping for the modular classrooms to be installed by November so all children can return to the school site.

The school year for Reception pupils will begin on September 6 for shorter days before full school days from September 11.

All other years will be starting on September 5.