CHILDREN living in a village with no pre-school provision will soon have a place to call their own, thanks to two generous grants.

Callow End CE Primary School is gearing up to open its pre-school on Wednesday, April 30 after it received a vital grant of £1,500 from Powick Parish Council in addition to £4,000 donated by cllr Tom Wells

The funds from the parish council, which were backed unanimously, will be used to purchase a storage container so all the pre-school furniture and equipment can be safely and securely packed away at the end of each session.

Headteacher Sue Parker said she was "absolutely delighted" to receive the full amount they applied for and some

"In Callow End there's no provision at all for pre-school children. Families with children that go to pre-school have to drop the pupils here and then rush off to take the other children."

Mrs Parker added: "It is because of these fantastic donations we have got the money that we needed to set the pre-school up. If we had not got the funding we would not have been able to do it.

"For the parish council to be supporting such a big project in the village is great. We are really pleased because they only usually approve grant applications in December of January."

Cllr Tom Wells said: "This is an investment in the long-term future of the village school. It is a very competitive market these days and it makes sense for the school to operate a pre-school with the intention that most pupils continue onto the main school."

It will be housed in the school's dining room and will provide 16 children aged three and above somewhere to go within the village for the first time and it is due to be open Monday to Friday from 9am to noon.

Parents and guardians can register their interest in a place for their children, with an application form available on the school's website and some places are still available.

For more information and to register your interest, go to callowend.worcs.sch.uk or call 01905 830337.