First year infants could be split from their friends - because of a delay over permission for a new classroom.
The decision to divide the class of new starters - at least for a few weeks - was forced on staff at Hilltop Infants School, Wickford, because council leaders took so long in deciding whether they could have the extra space.
Work has begun on laying the foundations for the extension but it will not be completed by the start of the new term in September.
It means the new class will have to be split, with some going in the morning and others going in the afternoon just so staff have a place to teach them.
Bosses at Basildon Council have defended the near nine months it took to give the plan the go-ahead.
The extension was forced on the school because several parents won the right to send their children there after taking their fight for places to the education appeals panel.
The council says extended consultations with residents and other parties were vital for thorough consideration.
Headteacher Celia Ebrahimi said the youngest children would have gone as one group for morning classes if building work had been completed.
But to comply with Government guidelines on classroom number, there was no option but to divide the class.
It is hoped the work will be finished within two months.
Published Monday August 19, 2002
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