A SCHOOL in Bolton has been held up as an example to others when it comes to providing the best for its children — and families.

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah visited St Bede Primary which has become the first in the country to offer a childminding service on top of the wraparound care it already provides.

Mr Gyimah said: "St Bede's Nursery is a great example of what innovation and passion can create in early years.

"It has a private nursery, a school nursery and the country's first childminding agency.

"There is a lot schools can learn from St Bede's in challenging themselves.

"Childcare settings are about developing the child such as speech and language and making children school ready which makes a big difference."

He added that families could save themselves £8,000 a year if they took advantage of the government childcare support available to them.

Mr Gyimah toured the building, speaking to the senior leadership before visiting the nursery in Deane.

He added: "We are committed to giving parents as much choice as possible for flexible, affordable and good quality childcare.

"I was delighted to see this on offer at both Alexandra Nursery School and St Bede Academy. They are two great examples of providers who help to ensure that no child should start school behind their peers.

"We also want to encourage new childcare providers to enter the system, which is why we're cutting bureaucracy to make it easier for new ones to open and for current ones to expand.”

Headteacher of St Bede Academy Jack Hatch said: "We want the department to see we we do, what we try to achieve and see what's happening on the ground.

"We offer flexible childcare to parents at an affordable price.

"This school is part of the community, and it not just about the children in the school — but those in the wider community.

"This should be the best educated generation ever, and the spin off from the childcare facilities is identifying difficulties earlier and providing the extra support needed to children and families.

"We have had parents say to us that they could not go back to work if it wasn't for the children care opportunities available at school.

He added: "We are over the moon that he has visited St Bede's, this is the second visit from a Minister in the last six months it makes us feel very proud."