A NEW nursery that will cater for 32 children a day will open in Bierley thanks to a partnership between a community association, an academy trust and Bradford Council.

The nursery will be set up on playing fields at The Life Centre, on Bierley House Avenue, after a planning application was approved this week.

The council says the new nursery was needed to meet its requirements for at least 80 per cent of two-year-olds eligible for free childcare in the area to be able to access a local place.

Bierley Community Association runs the life centre. Meanwhile, the nursery will be run by the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust after a vacant modular unit that is currently on Thornton Road is transported to the site and refurbished to support 16 children at a time, and offer morning and afternoon sessions.

Recent government policies have expanded the number of families eligible for free nursery places for their two-year-olds, and there are currently over 4,500 in the district who are eligible for places.

The council’s application for the Bierley nursery said: “Childcare places will enable vulnerable children within the local community to access a high quality childcare places, which research shows improves life chances and attainment of young children.

“Local families will be able to engage with the childcare nursery and receive advice and support on parenting support, benefits of early education and the importance of engaging with professionals and local schools.”

Planning officers said that although the site earmarked for the nursery was classed as a playing field, it was not used for this purpose, and was “incapable of forming a playing pitch.”

Councillor Imran Khan, the executive member for education, employment and skills on Bradford Council, said: “We’re working with The Life Centre in Bierley to expand early education places for two-year-olds at the centre so we can meet the needs of local families.

“These places will support our two-year-old offer of free childcare for eligible children and will mean that up to 32 children can have access to good quality early education giving them the chance of a better start.”