A NEW 48-place nursery could be established at one of Barnoldswick's most go-ahead primary schools.

Coates Lane School has submitted a bid for a capital grant to part-finance the custom-built "Foundation Stage" facility, which would be an extension to its existing reception class.

The new nursery would provide 24 places each morning and 24 each afternoon, with the sessions each running for four hours.

The school already has 30 children in its reception class, who would benefit from improved facilities.

However, for the plan to succeed the school would have to raise half the estimated cost of the project itself - around £60,000.

Now parents, governors and friends of the school are busy coming up with money-spinning ideas, while funding pledges from the community are also sought.

Headteacher Sue Holloway explained that the project was born out of a Government initiative that aimed to help parents return to work.

"When a child turns three, the parents are entitled to nursery vouchers for two-and-a-half hours of nursery education each weekday. The Government wants nurseries to provide 'wrap around' care, extending the sessions to four hours.

"That would mean children at the nursery getting two-and-a-half hours of education, paid for with nursery vouchers, and an additional one-and-a-half hours of care. That would be paid for by the parents, but it might only be around £3 per session, or £15 per week, and there might be ways of subsidising that cost.

"It should enable parents to return to work, even if it's only part-time."

Mrs Holloway added that there was currently a shortage of pre-school nursery places in Barnoldswick, and the idea of a nursery at Coates Lane had been warmly welcomed.

A letter has already gone out to parents seeking their backing for the bid and any fundraising ideas, and the school is hoping local firms might support the initiative, as it could be in their interests to get skilled people back into the workplace.

"I need to produce a business plan to show how the new Foundation Stage would work, including how we would raise our half of the funding," said Mrs Holloway.

"If the bid succeeds we could be opening the nursery in April 2004."

The school already supports working parents by running a thriving after-school club, caring for up to 40 pupils before and after normal school hours.

Anyone who can help the school with pledges of financial support or fundraising ideas can phone the school on 01282 812203.