A NEW nursery school is set to open in North Oxford in a bid to offer parents more choice for three-year-olds.

St Aloysius' Catholic Primary School in Woodstock Road, already caters for children from four to 11 in the area.

But from January it will also run a nursery class after being given permission by Oxfordshire County Council and the Birmingham Diocese of the Catholic Church.

Reception class teacher Zoe Spilberg said the school particularly wanted to cater for parents who wanted their children to receive a faith-based education.

She said: "The school is lowering its entrance age in recognition of the limited number of Catholic nursery places available for children in Oxford.

"The nursery will be called Acorn Class and will be accommodated next to the school's reception class, creating a dedicated early years foundation stage unit.

"The Catholic values and ethos of the primary school will be central to the curriculum and daily life of the nursery."

The class will provide term-time education for up to 26 children and the school is taking enquiries from interested parents.

Children will be able to attend for 15 hours funded by the Government and parents will be able to buy additional hours if they want to send their children to the nursery full time.

School chaplain Father Daniel Seward said: "It is very exciting that St Aloysius' School is now able to expand its provision to cover the nursery years.

"I hope that this will be of real value for Catholic parents looking for the best for their children from their earliest years."

St Aloysius School is currently rated as requiring improvement by Ofsted, but after its most recent monitoring inspection the watchdog said it was making good progress towards a better rating.

John Howson represents St Margaret's ward, which includes St Aloysius School, on Oxfordshire County Council. He welcomed the nursery but raised concerns.

He said: "Clearly high-quality nursery education is a good thing. But parking in that area is challenging at peak times.

"The nursery provision has to be managed in such a way that it does not become more difficult in terms of air quality and parking and everything else.

"If it is provision for parents who are bringing siblings, then there would not be so many more cars.

"But as a Catholic school it has a wider intake area than a community school.

"It would be helpful if the school could warn residents that they are opening a nursery in January."

The nursery will open its doors at 8.45am on January 4.

To find out about applying visit staloysius.net or email office.3842@st-aloysius.oxon.sch.uk