A Rainham school and children’s centre were officially opened by the Mayor of Havering last week.

Cllr Lynden Thorpe opened Rainham Village Primary School and children’s centre, which are now both on the same site to make it easier for Rainham families by including services and facilities in one location.

The work was part of the council’s Rainham Compass project, to improve the quality of life for residents.

Work to refurbish the school was completed this summer and included redesigning many areas of the school.

Six small classrooms were remodelled into four larger rooms with additional facilities such as a cloakroom and separate room for group work. Two classrooms have also been relocated to a new space made by knocking through an old caretaker’s office and stockroom and cloak/changing room.

The school nursery has also moved and is now adjoined to the school instead of being a separate building.

The Rainham Village Children’s Centre now includes services including baby massage sessions, a dad’s club, adult college course, a playroom with new toys and sensory stations and midwifery services.

Working in partnership with charity Crossroads, which provides respite for carers, the children’s centre is also able to offer fitness sessions for children aged four to 18 with disabilities.

Rainham Village Primary School headteacher Sandra Carter said: “We were delighted to have the Mayor of Havering come to officially open the school and children’s centre.

“The children have all been really enthusiastic about the improvements to the school and are now making the most of the modern facilities. It’s a fantastic thing for the families of Rainham to have their local primary school co-located with a children’s centre, and all the facilities that can offer them.”

Cllr Michael Armstrong, cabinet member with responsibility for Rainham Compass, said: “It’s fantastic to see these modern and fit-for-purpose facilities open after several months of hard work.

“Co-locating the school and children’s centre will not only boost services for residents but help both work together much more and provide a real one-stop shop for Rainham families. The joint, welcoming entrance is a great sign of these two services working together to help provide a better future for children in Rainham.”