A NEW state-of-the-art children's centre could open at a school following the conversion of a former caretaker's bungalow.

The plans for the £200,000 centre at Cranham Primary School, Tetbury Drive, Warndon, Worcester, have been handed in to planners at Worcester City Council.

The centre, if approved, will serve families in Warndon and Brickfields, and could be open by the autumn term if the plans are approved.

The county council is committed to developing children's centres throughout Worcestershire by March 2008. Children's centres offer early education with full-day childcare, teacher input, support services for families, child and family health services. These include antenatal services, support for children with special needs and their parents, plus sessions with various agencies such as Relate and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

The Government-funded venture is part of a programme of investment in children's services by Worcester-shire County Council.

Worcester already has three children's centres - Fairfield Children's Centre in the campus of Fairfield Community Primary School, Tudor Way Children's Centre at Dines Green Primary School and the Tolladine Centre.

The proposed Cranham Drive Children's Centre will be in the old caretaker's bungalow and linked to the Fairfield Children's Centre which offers childcare, family support and health services, advice and information, family learning and also training for adults.

Headteacher Valerie Holl-and said she would be delighted if the scheme is approved and hopes the centre will be able to offer a range of opportunities for the 430 pupils at the school, parents and other members of the community.

She said: "It would mean that we can extend the opening hours to 6pm.

"It will build on the good practice that is already established at the school. We are excited about it - it's something we have been fighting for for ages."

Cath Ellicott, Worcest-ershire County Council's children's centre project manager, said: "There are already highly successful children's centres running around the county and this new site would provide an opportunity to bring a wider range of accessible services to this local community."

In Worcester, a new centre at Perry Wood Primary and Nursery School was completed on Wednesday, May 23.

Planning permission is also being sought for the development of a children's centre at Warndon Primary School and a design is under way to create a children's centre at Gorse Hill Primary School.