A NEW community nursery project is set to open in Warminster backed by over £800,000 of Government funding.

The Early Excellence Centre, which will be built at The Avenue Primary School, is expected to open in September 2004. The project is a partnership between the school and Wiltshire County Council.

Babies and children up to school age will have full day care and early education facilities. This will be integrated with support for families and training for staff working with young children.

The nursery will offer support services and information to parents on a range of childcare issues. There will also be education and training opportunities for childcare professionals and those planning a career in childcare.

Last year the Department for Education and Skills announced £750,000 in funding for the centre, including £200,000 to run it during its first year. A planning application is imminent for the £900,000 project, which included further funding from the DFES, county council and the school itself.

Mike Baxter will be the centre manager when it opens in September 2004, but describes his role now as that of project manager. Mr Baxter said: "This is a community project for the whole of Warminster and will also raise the profile of the school. It has been a two-year process. Several schools in the area bid for the centre and ours proved to be the best."

Mr Baxter said that building the centre would mean developing part of the school's sports ground, but that the children would end up with an improved activity area.

He said: "There's no reason why we shouldn't get planning permission as it is a community project. The centre will offer a straight-line education system, taking children from babies right through to primary school and the military will be heavily involved with it."

Fergus Campbell, early years and childcare development manager at Wiltshire County Council, said: "I am delighted that the designs and funding for this exciting project are now in place."

The new centre will be the only one of its kind in the country to help army families returning from abroad. It will ensure that the needs of their children are assessed before they come back to the UK and support is available immediately on their return.