New nursery at school 'will help children settle'

A primary school in Lancashire will open a 15‑place nursery for three‑ and four‑year‑olds in October thanks to a government grant.

Altham St James Church of England Primary School, in Burnley Road, Hyndburn, was one of 17 schools in the county to share £45m from the Best Start programme to improve early years provision.

The grants from the Department for Education and Skills will create thousands of new nursery places across the country, aiming to save parents an average of £8,000 a year while helping children start school ready to learn.

Head teacher Carol Woods said: "This is a very exciting development for our school and for families in our community."

"Having nursery and school provision all on one site will bring real benefits for families, allowing siblings to stay together and enabling parents to make use of our established wraparound care," she said.

"This continuity will help children to settle, build strong relationships and transition smoothly through school.

"The nursery is due to be completed by October half term 2026, and we would warmly encourage families who are interested to get in touch with the school for more information."

Hyndburn MP Sarah Smith, MP said: "Parents have been clear with me about the pressures they face with childcare costs, and the impact that has on their working lives and family finances.

"This investment helps put that right, ensuring that children here are starting to get the same opportunities as those down south," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Schools in Colne, Burscough, Singleton, Lytham St Annes and Clitheroe are also included.

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