Goddard Park Primary School in Park North is the first school of its kind that is set to become a centre of excellence, catering for the needs of the community and its pupils. JAMES WATSON, paid a visit to take a closer look at the plans.

THERE is a buzz about Goddard Park Primary School. From the cyber caf, to the nursery, to the playground, there is a feeling that something exciting is in the process of happening. That is because it is.

The school is getting up to £1m of extra cash from the Government to become a Centre of Early Excellence.

It will mean that the school will be transformed into a focal point for the Park North community, with services on offer for everyone from babies to pensioners.

For starters the school is getting more than £300,000 to build a seven room extension which will house a crche, coffee bar, day care room and classrooms for adult learning and community use.

As the centre of excellence develops, more services will be introduced responding to community demand.

This will be the first centre of its kind in the country, and the Department for Education and Skills was keen to ensure that any school or college earning the funding was already reaching high standards.

Goddard Park's latest report from Govern-ment inspectors Ofsted in May 2001 called it an effective school which serves its pupils and the community well.

The headteacher and governors were praised for leading the school well and being committed to raising standards.

The school, with 425 pupils is one of the largest primaries in Swindon, and already has many of the facilities the centre of excellence will offer in place, but the extra funding will mean it can extend them even further.

Headteacher Mike Welsh said: "The school has a clear foundation stage curriculum now and the centre of excellence status is a recognition of that.

"It is crucial to get a quality learning experience when children are young. It encourages them to investigate the world and learn more.

"This will be a superb resource for Park North and for Swindon."

The cyber caf, which was opened two years ago by South Swindon MP Julia Drown, has been one of the school's success stories.

In the morning the 16 computers are available free of charge to parents and Park North residents, and in the afternoons pupils use the room for information technology lessons.

In the evenings it is used for computing classes open to the community.

Catering manager Denise Sell says that the healthy eating programme will continue in the extension's drop-in caf.

She said: "We have increased the healthy options at the school by offering baguettes and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

"We want to move away from stodgy cakes in the coffee bar and give people healthy snacks such as jacket potatoes."

Parents such as Tina McCusker, 31, a road safety assistant from Park North have heaped praise on the school.

She has two daughters, Abbie, four and Mollie, two, who both attend the school and nursery.

She said: "This is a brilliant school and the centre of excellence is great news.

"I visit a lot of schools as a road safety officer and this, along with Pinehurst Infant and Junior schools, is the best I've seen.

"I'm not surprised the Government has invested so much money in the school."

While the funding will benefit the whole of the community the focus will be on the early years department.

Early years supervisor Kate Brett said: "In the early years we can provide for everyone from babies to five-year-olds.

"Early years education is important on many levels, especially the social side such as forming relationships with other children and sharing.

"It is good for them to get used to the routine of school life in a positive way and learning skills through having fun in targeted play."

South Swindon MP Julia Drown was instrumental in securing the funding.

She said: "I am delighted the school has earned this prestigious status and would like to offer my congratulations to the staff and pupils."