PRE-school children with little or no English are learning the language before they get to primary school in a new scheme.

Bosses at Burnley’s Little Acorns Community Day Nursery have developed a Talking Timetable and a Story Sacks Library to improve children’s language skills.

The timetable displays everyday tasks, such as eating lunch, with photos and a recorded description.

When the recording is played, the description is said it English and other languages including Punjabi, Pushto and Urdu to help children learn English translations.

And the Story Sacks encourage parents to read stories in English which their children then act out to understand the words.

Deputy manager Amanda Stringer, who put the new schemes together, said staff communication skills had improved as a result.

The nursery, which is based in the Chai Centre in Hurtley Street, looked into new ways to communicate as English is a second language for many of those who join.

Using help offered under Lancashire County Council’s Every Child a Talker scheme, Amanda developed the programmes.

In Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire there is a high proportion of children who learn English as a second language when they reach school.

Amanda said: “The nursery’s Story Sack Library is very popular with parents and children.

“Excellent for children who are reluctant talkers, the story sacks are taken home and parents read the stories while their children act them out using props and photos – the children love doing this. We are very pleased with the results.”

Currently there are 60 children, aged between three months and four years old, who attend the nursery.