A NEW primary school is the first in east Durham to become a centre of excellence for early years learning.

Eden Community Primary, at Peterlee, will use £100,000 a year of Surestart funding to offer integrated education and daycare.

The school, formed in September by the amalgamation of Eden Hall Infant and Junior schools, will provide early years education as well as playgroups, crches and courses for parents.

"We are one of only 16 announced nationally and the first in County Durham,'' said headteacher Yvonne Ryle.

"We will be able to provide more family liaison and early learning courses and offer more services such as bigger toy and lending libraries, courses for parents and extra staff so that we will be able to work with parents at home.

"Before Surestart there was little support for families with young children and babies.

"Our centre of excellence will mean there is somewhere of quality for parents to access help, advice, support or whatever they need," she said.

Eden Community Primary has a 39-place nursery, which can cater for children with special needs, and 14 classrooms, including a two-class reception unit.