TODDLERS are being taught to be ‘school ready’ at one of Blackburn’s newest nurseries.

St James’ CE Primary School officially opened its new foundation stage unit yesterday after the facility was handed over by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

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The former John Smethurst Children’s Centre was transferred to the Earl Street school’s control after being handed responsibility for providing free government-funded education.

It has 51 youngsters on its roll with a few places still up for grabs.

The school, which is spread across three sites, completed refurbishing the building before it opened in June.

The official opening ceremony for the building, which was constructed in 2006, was conducted by Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Burnley yesterday.

Representatives of the council also attended and the guests were given a tour of the facilities.

The school’s business manager Samantha Roscoe, said: “We are really pleased with how the new nursery has been working since we took it over.

“The children seem to have settled in really well and have been making good progress.

“Our aim is to make the children ‘school ready’ so when they go up to reception they are familiar with their surroundings and what’s going on.

“The colours and the classroom layouts are similar across our buildings with that aim in mind.

“It’s important that we get that transition right.

“It has been brilliant so far and the feedback from parents has been great.

“When the children’s centre became available it was a great opportunity for the school.

“By providing free funded education the children can come to the nursery for 15 hours a week.

“That is paid for by the government.

“By being ‘school ready’ the children will be better prepared for progressing through the school and making that step from nursery into pre-school and into reception.

“It’s great that the school is able to take this nursery on because it will provide the children with a great start to their education.”

The school was graded as ‘good’ when it was last inspected by Ofsted in 2013.