A NEW day centre for children from Reydon and Southwold opened has opened following the closure of a day nursery in Southwold earlier this year.The Reydon and Southwold Children's Centre has leased rooms at Reydon Primary School since 1998 catering for the over-five's before and after school and during the school holidays.

A NEW day centre for children from Reydon and Southwold opened has opened following the closure of a day nursery in Southwold earlier this year.

The Reydon and Southwold Children's Centre has leased rooms at Reydon Primary School since 1998 catering for the over-five's before and after school and during the school holidays.

However, following the closure of Hollies Nursery on Southwold Common this summer, Reydon Primary School stepped in and offered its spare rooms for a day nursery for the under-fives and there are plans afoot to build extra rooms onto the school for the new facility.

Gary Draper, headteacher of Reydon Primary School, who will be meeting representatives from the Suffolk Local Education Authority this week, said: "Everything is at an extremely tentative stage but I believe we have the support from the school's governors and the necessary funding. It's a very exciting time for us and it's nice to be able to help the local community. The most wonderful thing about all this is the fantastic relationship the children will have with the school."

Alison Forward, play leader at the centre, agreed. She said: "The new day care centre is so convenient everyone. Our pre-school children will get to know the school and we will liase with the teachers to do joint visits. It's ideal."

The centre's aim is to offer professional and affordable childcare for children aged from three-months to 13-years and is fortunate to have been granted funding from the Government's Neighbourhood Nursery scheme and from the Sure Start programme.

If given the green light, the new facilities will include a Family Support Centre, a Relax Room, an outside play area, reception and an office, a waiting area for parents as well as a complete refurbishment of its current rooms.

One of the centre's eight staff also drives the Reydon Community Minibus everyday to take children to and from other local schools.