THE youngest pupils at Crakehall CE primary school can now see the world from their own height in a new £75,000 classroom.

Designs have moved on since the days when old schools were built with windows set high in the stern belief that children should keep their heads down and not be distracted by any outside activity.

The new Crakehall classroom, funded by the Department for Education, is decidedly pupil-friendly and head teacher Mr Mark Allison, who manages an 87-strong roll, said: "It is lovely to have a purpose-built classroom for the young ones with carpets as well as windows and even sink units at their height.

"For the last two years we have been running four classes and this new classroom will enable us to provide better facilities for the very youngest children in the reception class."

An old brick-built play shed was demolished to make way for the classroom, officially opened on Wednesday by the Rt Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds. He unveiled a clock, paid for by the school friends' group, and a commemorative stone on the outside wall above the entrance.

The classroom, which blends seamlessly into its older surroundings at the top of the playground behind the school, was designed by North Yorkshire education department in line with national government requirements that infant class sizes should be reduced to no more than 30 pupils. It is one of several such projects undertaken by the county council over the last few years.

Work was begun on the classroom last October by a Northallerton contractor, R B A Moody, and Mr Allison said: "It did have an effect on the life of the school because children had their play space restricted, but the contractors were very safety conscious."

The classroom is the latest in a series of developments at the school over the past 12 years but another is in the offing.

The school has leased a paddock next door and is seeking planning permission for change of use to a play area. Mr Allison said the school already used part of the village green but the paddock would help to increase the amount of sport and PE available.

It was hoped, subject to planning consent, that the paddock could be in use by the end of summer for children who come from Crakehall, Langthorne, Patrick Brompton and Newton-le-Willows. Mr Allison said it was planned to remove a perimeter fence so that more light would reach the new classroom.