A SCHOOL has submitted a planning application to install entrance gates to its car park in response to a safeguarding concern.

Dedham Primary School wants to install the gates due to insufficient boundary fencing and an insecure perimeter.

At present, pupils can easily access the car park from the main school hall and one instance has seen a pupil exit through this route.

A spokesman for North Essex Premises Group, who is representing the school, said: “Once a pupil exits through this route, they are free to navigate the car park and ultimately leave the premises undetected.

“The car park entrance is the main vehicular access point to the site, allowing staff to park, for deliveries to be made and waste to be collected.

“At any point during the school day, vehicles and pedestrians are free to enter the car park and manoeuvre within.”

Entrance gates to the school car park will allow for greater control to both vehicular and pedestrian access to the car park and provide a "robust" perimeter to safeguard pupils.

The proposed works include a pair of 1.8-metre-high gates with a combined width of 4.5 metres.

Gemma Chester, Headteacher at Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, said: “Nothing is more important that the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.

"We strictly follow all safeguarding policies and procedures as laid out statutorily and by the local authority.

“This safeguarding concern has been raised, we feel it is imperative to deal with that concern as quickly as possible and this proposed perimeter fence is very similar to fences installed in other schools across the county.

"This work is in line with further planned exciting developments to our school grounds."