FOLLOWING Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's promise to provide children from less well-off homes in England with 15 hours of pre-school classes a week from the age of two, South Zeal Pre-School is applying to Ofsted to lower its intake age.

Mr Clegg announced last week that the coalition government had found an extra £7 billion from outside the education department's budget to pay for the initiative over four years.

South Zeal Pre-School is currently registered to accept children from the age of three but is now looking to take children from the age of two in early 2011.

Sharon Cooper, pre-school leader at South Zeal, said: 'It's evident that some of our children are ready to start pre-school earlier than others so this funding could mean that these children will be able to access free Early years Education before the term after their third birthday.' 

Matt Woodley, chair of South Zeal pre-school committee, added: 'It has always been a wish of the committee and parents to allow children to start earlier.  This recent announcement by the government and our application to Ofsted will give families, not just in South Zeal, but in the wider Okehampton area, a real choice in Early Years education.'

For more information call 01837 840909.