A SCHOOL extension to house PE equipment will allow bosses to expand kitchen space and prevent children being late back to lessons.

Plans have been drawn up for the proposals at St James' Church of England primary school in Blackburn.

And now Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved the application.

Children are often 10-15 minutes late for lesson time following lunchtime, which is having a significant impact upon teaching and learning.

And the school currently has to use seven teaching assistants for additional hours to cover lunchtime support.

The teaching assistant hours are taken out of teaching and learning time following the lunch period.

Bosses at the school had considered the use of classrooms and the key stage one hall for pupils eating packed lunches but this impacts upon staffing either requiring further recruitment or additional hours.

They also say it could have a negative impact on children’s social interaction with their peers.

The proposal for the new building has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Borough planning officer John Wilson said: "The proposal involves the extension of the school kitchen servery facility into the existing PE store to better cope with the demand for school lunches within a constrained time period.

"The proposed extension is intended to replace the PE store being lost to these internal alterations.

"The proposed development is therefore in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework in providing for the development of facilities at the school."