IN a dramatic reversal of fortune, Shakerley Primary School is celebrating a £64,000 award for a new nursery.

Despite being earmarked for possible closure last week, spirits are high at the Tyldesley community school as they prepare to use the grant -- provided by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust and The Children's Fund -- to transform a spare classroom into a custom-made nursery for three to five-year-olds.

Extensive refurbishments, including a fitted kitchen, new flooring and new furniture and toys, are due to take place during the summer holidays, with the first children enrolling in September.

The Lancaster Avenue school is one of two in the Tyldesley area being considered for closure by education chiefs after reports showed falling birthrates had reduced the demand for primary school places.

Figures indicated Shakerley was operational with only 66 per cent of its potential intake, with Shakerley area children also attending Hindsford CE and Tyldesley St George's Central schools. Only two pupils at the school did not live in Shakerley.

Headteacher Anthea Ladd said: "The nursery will allow us to provide quality pre-school education. Early years provision is very important as it raises their base line, children's skills are much greater if they begin learning at pre-school.

Intake

"Part of the reason we have a low intake is because once children have attended a nursery at another school for two years, they stay on at that school. We are hoping this will encourage people to use our school as they don't need to go elsewhere now."

Chairman of Governors Sid Chorley said: "Shakerley is more than a school, it is necessary to the estate. This area is isolated with no easy access to a town, the school is one of the only community facilities."

Mrs Ladd said: "They can take the school, which would be sad enough, but they will be taking the heart out of the community as well."

In addition to the new nursery, the school has also been pioneering the borough's only 'nurture group' for the past 12 months, which has been labelled a success by Wigan's education department.

The scheme focuses on pupils with emotional, behavioural or personal problems. They are taken from their mainstream lessons and taught in a relaxed, specially adapted classroom -- the Rainbow Room.

Three staff work with the group of up to 12 children on a daily basis to help them adapt to school life, so they can be integrated back into mainstream classrooms.

Education chief Councillor Brian Wilson said: "The nurture group is doing tremendously well. We are very impressed with what is going on and hope to develop them elsewhere, but it always comes down to funding."