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A MARYPORT school has been given a new lease of life thanks to a six-figure cash boost.

Maryport Church of England Primary School has benefitted from £220,000 worth of refurbishment to give children an improved learning environment.

Pupils arrived at school on Wednesday to find the Foundation Stage Unit had been given a makeover to provide children aged three to five with a dedicated space for their development. The dining room, which is used by both infants and junior pupils, was also fully refurbished, together with the infants’ library.

Headteacher Joanne Ormond said: “A lot of people have worked really hard over the summer holidays to get it ready in time.”

She added that it was lovely to see children enjoying the new space.

The work was funded thanks to an investment by Cumbria County Council of £200,000, a £20,000 contribution from the school and a grant from catering company Orian.

Children can now enjoy a new IT suite which is fully equipped with iPads and monitors.

Mrs Ormond said: “It will have a massive impact on the children’s learning.”

She added that this will help towards the school becoming Apple-accredited.

Pupils were given a new book bag by the board of governors.

She said: “It was lovely, and everybody also arrived with a new uniform.”

Before merging onto one site, Maryport Infant School was separate to the junior section. Part of Cumbria County Council’s funding went towards integrating the alarm system into one, Mrs Ormond said: “It was something that the governors thought was really important.”

New security fencing is also being installed.

A spokesman for Orian, which contributed towards the refurbishment, said: “Orian recently began delivering the food service at Maryport C of E Primary and are contributing towards the cost of the school’s new dining tables and chairs.

“The school is now using our web-based meal management system ‘LunchShop’, allowing parents to conveniently pre-pay for their children’s meals via an online portal and we have also provided the hardware and software required to operate the system in the school.

“We have been thrilled to see that these additions have helped to upgrade the dining area to a modern, inviting and efficient environment for pupils to enjoy their meals and create a more workable space for the school.”

Building work took around six weeks and took place during the holidays. The school said there are still some finishing touches to be made, but they should be completed soon.

In a post on the school’s Facebook page, staff who had given up time during their holidays to get the school ready were thanked.