CHILDREN as young as four are reportedly being left to play alongside pupils up to Year 6 at a Corringham primary school, prompting safety fears.

Thurrock Council has confirmed it will be "speaking" to Mossbourne Herd Lane school after it was claimed reception age pupils are sharing playground space with older children during lunch and break times.

Parents claim the arrangement breaches statutory guidance under the Early Years Foundation Stage and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Gary Byrne, Independent councillor for The Homesteads, has called for an urgent safeguarding review.

He has written to Thurrock Council and Jonathan Duff, the Department for Education's regional director for the East of England, warning of "serious risks to the safety and wellbeing of children."

Parents have reported incidents where older pupils allegedly pick up reception children "for fun" and play high-contact games such as basketball in the same area.

In one case, a Year 6 pupil is alleged to have dropped a reception child on their head. Parents claim the incident was not properly recorded, nor were they notified, and no changes were made to supervision levels.

Cllr Byrne said: "Given the seriousness of the concerns, I've requested a full safeguarding review of lunchtime supervision and playground arrangements to be carried out immediately. These issues raise clear welfare concerns that require urgent investigation."

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The Mossbourne Federation, which took over Mossbourne Herd Lane and other schools from the Ortu Federation in January, has faced criticism for its strict disciplinary regime.

Last week it emerged that around 150 children had been removed from two Mossbourne secondary schools in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham following complaints about excessive detentions and isolations.

A Thurrock Council spokesperson said: "We will be speaking with the school to understand what steps they have taken in response to parents' concerns. The council takes all matters relating to the safety and wellbeing of children extremely seriously."

The Mossbourne Federation has been approached for comment.