A NURSERY celebrated receiving a major cash boost from Pendle Partnership and the injection could benefit up to 1755 children over the next three years.

The Offsprings nursery based on Railway St, Nelson received a grant of £52,469 from the partnership and will help to meet the shortage of flexible childcare in the Bradley and Whitefield wards for two-year-olds.

Lack of affordable childcare has been identified as one of the major barriers for parents wanting to return to work.

By making it easier for parents to return to work or to study, families will be less reliant on state benefits in the long run and better able to provide for their families.

Anne Taylor of Pendle Partnership said, "Pendle Partnership is committed to meeting local needs and helping the community to regenerate itself, by reducing poverty and social exclusion.

"The needs of Asian heritage children and parents must also be met which is why we are helping to fund a bilingual assistant at the school."

The bilingual assistant will help to improve communication between parents, children and staff at the nursery.

Linda Porter, Chairperson of Offsprings said, "There is a real need for more flexible childcare places. The extra places Pendle Partnership are funding will make a big difference to parents with two year-olds who want to work or study, or have a family crisis to deal with."

By employing a bilingual assistant we will also provide a better service to children and parents from the ethnic minority community."

Offsprings opened in August 2001 with contributions from the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund (NoF), Pendle Council, the Additional Standards fund and the Pump Priming Fund.