THE head of a school in a deprived area of Preston claims he and his colleagues are being used as scapegoats by education chiefs.

Ray Sudlow of the Holy Family in Ingol hit out after chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead claimed nearly ten per cent of headteachers were failing children.

Speaking from an area where there is no state provision of nursery schools, Mr Sudlow blamed educational achievement - or the lack of it - on pre-schooling.

He said: "Nursery education should be available, free, for everyone."

But parents in Ingol have been battling for four years to fill the gap in their children's schooling.

They have now set up a campaign group, Ingol Nursery Action Group, which this week came one step closer to its goal when it applied to the county council for permission to build a nursery unit alongside Ingol County Primary in Whitby Avenue.

Parent governor at the school Shirley Wilson has helped fund-raise more than £20,000.

But the full cost is expected to be closer to £80,000, Shirley said: "We have been on the waiting list for a nursery since the early 80s but we know there's no money.

"The only way we are ever going to get this nursery is through what we do ourselves."

The group has put in two bids for Lottery cash but so far to no avail. This year it submits a third.

One woman who would clearly benefit from a state nursery provision is mum-of-six Helen Wilson.

Helen of Beechley Road, said: "A lot of the mothers here are single parents. They need to go out to work or having a break from their children. I'm concerned about them."

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