A VILLAGE primary school will be opening its doors to younger children after the summer holidays.

From September 1, Mistley Norman Primary School will run a nursery for youngsters aged two to four.

The school, in Remercie Road, Mistley, will also be running under the new name Mistley Norman Primary School and Nursery when lessons resume.

The move comes after the former onsite independent provision, named Little Lambs Community Nursery, closed in February.

The school took over from the nursery site, which can take on up to 26 youngsters for the September start, on Monday, July 31.

Karen Jones, Mistley Norman Primary School headteacher, said the nursery has been decorated for the start of the academic year and she has held open days.

She said: “We are a Church of England primary school and we wanted that ethos to be in children from an early age.

“We are taking in two to four-year-olds so right from them beginning we can show them our values.

“It’s all quite exiting at this stage because there are not any other local schools which run as a nursery too.”

The nursery will be overseen by the school’s early years leader and two new staff members.

Children who attend the nursery will also be able to have lunch and assemblies with the primary school students.

Mrs Jones added: “I think really it’s just about what we are offering in our community.

“We need really good provision for our children and that’s why we have been able to take over the nursery because the school is growing and we have had a really successful year.”