THE headteacher of Gobowen Primary School has welcomed the creation if its own nursery and believes pupils entering full time education will be 'better prepared'.

The new nursery was officially opened on Wednesday, December 14 by Ronan Walsh and Oswestry mayor, Councillor Jay Moore, a former pupil.

The nursery will be using the space left by Gobowen All-Rounders after the school took the decision to make use of the room itself, and Mr Walsh believes the new nursery will help with pupils development.

He said: "It is fantastic and I am really proud to be the headteacher here.

"One of the things we have noticed since Covid-19 is that children are coming into the school socially underdeveloped.

"Having our own nursery is to help that social development within the classroom.

"It is fantastic to have Cllr Moore come as a former pupil and to actually open up the school.

"It was always our plan to get him here to do that.

"In terms of aspiration, it is brilliant for children to look and see that he attended the school and went on to become mayor."

Mr Walsh spoke about how the school plans to ease the transition between nursery and reception.

He said: "We integrate the children into the school from the very first day.

"They come to assemblies and have taken part in nativities where they performed in front of 75 parents.

"They are getting to know all our staff."

Teacher Bekah Plaisted believes nursery pupils will benefit from being in a school setting.

"It is great because we get them ready for Reception as well as keeping our interests at the forefront of of our teaching," she said

"They have had playtime with pupils in Reception classes so we can really integrate them in with the school which is so important for their development."

Cllr Moore was pleased to be opening the nursery at his old school and said he would never have expected to be doing it.

He said: "It is really quite an honour and a full circle.

"It is quite interesting to be back in this capacity.

"As a child we never quite know where our lives are going to head.

"I was sitting on the floor in this very floor as a child.

"I never expected to be back here as the mayor.

"It is a good reminder for myself and for other people that we do not know what life has and to enjoy the journey and see where it takes us."