Melton Primary School has celebrated the official opening of its new Early Years building – with an Ipswich Town football player visiting to cut the red ribbon.
Pupils, staff and project partners were joined by ITFC player Fin Barbrook at the opening ceremony, as the school looks forward to welcoming its first cohort to the building in September.
Caroline Richardson, Co-Headteacher of Melton Primary School, said: “The completion of our new nursery building marks an exciting chapter for Melton Primary School and the families we serve.
“Designed specifically for our youngest learners, the new facility provides a calm, welcoming and nurturing environment where children can develop, explore and grow in confidence.
“The new nursery will enable us to extend our provision to two-year-olds, creating even more opportunities for local families to access high-quality early years education.
“We look forward to welcoming our new children from September and seeing them flourish in this fantastic new setting.”
The new state-of-the-art nursery, funded through East Suffolk Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and delivered in partnership with Suffolk County Council, provides places for up to 30 children.
The purpose-built facility features buff brick materials, a single-storey scale consistent with the existing school buildings and a contemporary architectural style.
A canopied area leads to a play space alongside large windows, offering beautiful views of the school grounds, bringing natural light and a sense of the outdoors to the nursery.
Cllr Tony Gould, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Melton Primary school and hear from staff what a difference this nursery will make to support children’s education and learning.
“Discussions with a governor indicated how relieved they are to have this new provision in close proximity to the primary school, making future transition to the main school easier.
“Suffolk County Council has worked closely with the school and partners to ensure that this wonderful nursery could be built. I am sure that the first class of nursery children will be excited to start in September.”
Following planning approval in June 2025, construction began in autumn 2025, led by Concertus in partnership with local contractor Seamans Building.
Charles Coulson, Associate Director at Concertus, said: “It is fantastic to see the new early years building complete and ready to support future generations of learners.
“This milestone is a testament to the dedication, expertise and collaboration of the entire project team.
“We are proud to have helped create a modern, nurturing environment where children can learn, develop and thrive, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on pupils, families and the wider school community for years to come.”
Mark Reason, Pre-Construction Director at Seamans, added: “The new nursery at Melton Primary School has been a fantastic project to work on and will provide a calm and inviting learning space for pupils for years to come.
“The school community has been so supportive throughout the build, involving the children from the beginning so they could see the building take shape from the ground up.
“It’s wonderful to see the building completed and we look forward to the children moving into their new home after their well-earned summer holiday.”
The nursery will open its doors to children at the beginning of the 2026 academic year.
