SOON it will not be just the children setting off for school but mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Children, grown-up relatives and neighbours will be attending classes on the same site because there is a proposal to build a £218,000 local learning centre attached to Green Gates Primary School, in a disadvantaged area of Redcar.

The aim is to encourage adults back into education with training programmes to improve job prospects, while stimulating parental and community involvement in the school.

A council report says that such a project would address many of the priorities identified by the Learning and Skills Council, answering a need for basic skills, family learning and second chance education.

Regional development agency One NorthEast is putting up £147,000 towards the project, with money also coming from the regeneration budget and a contribution from the primary school.

Power company Enron has prepared plans of the proposed centre.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and its partners hope to choose a contractor next month, after putting the work out to tender.

Key features of the centre would be an information technology room , a training room which can also be used for a creche and general studies, an interview room, office space and toilets.

It is the brainchild of the Kirkleatham Community Forum, which is made up of residents and representatives of voluntary, public and private sector organisations.