WORK has started on a £340,000 extension to Carnarvon Primary School to help meet increasing demand for school places in Bingham.
Notts County Council is paying for the project as part of a programme to upgrade schools all over the county.
A two-classroom building is being built at the school at Nursery Road in Bingham.
It will increase capacity from 420 to 480 pupils, with numbers increasing by ten per year for the next six years.
The development – which benefits from under-floor heating, natural ventilation and sustainable energy features – uses the innovative Connect Classroom design, intended to speed up construction and permit adaptable class sizes.
Sam Bradley, who has a daughter in Year 2, said: "I am pleased to see this new learning environment that to benefit current and future pupils ."
Work is scheduled to be completed by August 30 in time for the start of the 2013-14 school year.
Head teacher Jonathan Cunliffe said: "We are extremely keen for every child from Bingham to have the opportunity to go to school in Bingham, so I am very supportive of these plans.
"I am delighted that the latest sustainable energy features have been designed into the building, which will benefit the environment and reduce running costs by making it much more energy efficient."
Parent Carolyn Mees, who has a son in Year 4, added: "Carnarvon is such an outstanding school that I feel sorry for children who can not get a place here.
"So it is wonderful that this will open up that opportunity for more children."
The scheme is being managed by the council with local authority-controlled firm Scape, contractor GF Tomlinson and Derbyshire County Council.
Councillor David Kirkham, chairman of finance and property at Notts county council, said: "There is a growing demand for school places throughout Nottinghamshire and the county council has plans in place to increase capacity at a number of schools across the county in time for the next school year.
"As well as increasing capacity at schools, we are committed to providing our children and young people with the best possible learning environment to help further improve educational attainment, which is already on an upward trend."
