A BLACKBURN school is to provide government-funded nursery provision at a nearby children's centre to tackle a shortage of places for two, three and four year olds in the north of the town.

Wensley Fold Primary Academy is to work in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council on the initiative.

It will lease space at Wensley Fold Children’s Centre for a peppercorn rent of £1 a year.

The deal will cost the council £81,940 over five years.

A report by borough education boss Cllr Julie Gunn authorising the move says: "The council is to work in partnership with Wensley Fold Primary Academy to increase the capacity of high quality and accessible early education and childcare places for children aged two, three and four years in the Wensley Fold ward to meet current and future demand.

"The centre has a dedicated nursery space, however, a nursery provision has not been delivered from this space since August 2021.

"The most recent assessment concluded that whilst the borough as a whole continues to have sufficient early education and childcare places to meet demand, the Wensley Fold ward has minimal surplus capacity to meet the current and projected future demand of local families.

"Wensley Fold School has previously managed the Children’s Centre overseeing delivery of a successful high quality nursery provision alongside wider services for children and their families.

"The north area of the borough has a significant growth plan in respect of new family homes which is likely to generate increased demand for nursery provision. Growing the early years and childcare provision in the local area will help to meet current and projected future demand.

"The school is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all aspects

"Children attending Wensley Fold Primary School typically start their reception year below age-related expectation particularly in their speech, language and communication skills.

"However by the end of the Foundation Years children the gap has significantly narrowed.

"Enabling children to start their education earlier in their nursery years with a provider of education that has a proven record will offer improved educational and life chance opportunities for children."