Families and other residents in north Fulham are set to enjoy the benefits of more childcare places and an exciting range of new facilities - including an under fives' gym, toy library and community centre - after Normand Croft Community School's new early years centre secured £3.4 million funding from the North Fulham New Deal for Communities Partnership.

About 144 children, aged 18 months to five, regularly attend the current Normand Croft early years centre in north Fulham each day and there are drop-in facilities for young children and their parents or carers as well as after-school care for children up to the age of eight. The centre, which is funded by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, is also open during the school holidays, when it runs a wide range of activities.

A £3.4 million grant for a new early years centre to be built on the site has now been approved by the North Fulham New Deal for Communities Partnership board. Plans for the project will be considered by the council's planning applications committee tonight (Monday).

The new building, designed by London-based architects Avanti, will enable the centre, in Bramber Road, to expand and provide a far wider range of family and community services. These will include:
- A redeveloped early years centre to replace the current 1940s building - the need for better accommodation was highlighted by Ofsted inspectors in November 2001
- Provide an extra 26 childcare places, taking the total to 170
- Create new facilities for children and their parents/carers, including multi-sensory room, gym for under fives, community toy library
- Better quality after-school and holiday care for children aged up to 12
- Improved support for children with special educational needs, including speech and language therapy
- Two new full-time and nine new part-time jobs for local people, including nursery nurses, play workers, toy library co-ordinator and home-school co-ordinator
- Training for childcare, early years and play workers
- Base for childminders to meet
- A new community centre, managed by NDC-appointed representatives from the local community. This would provide support for parents, life-long learning and health services.

The design for the new centre was selected by a panel of parents, staff and community leaders following extensive consultation with children, staff, parents and residents. Work will start in August and the new building is due to be completed by September 2005. Staff and children will be housed in temporary buildings on the site while the work is carried out.

David Bowler, North Fulham NDC Partnership programme director, said: "This is a flagship project for the NDC and the council which will have a lasting impact on the quality of life of residents in the north Fulham area. The NDC partnership board felt the immediate and long-term benefits of the new building and facilities more than justified their support for the scheme. We look forward to working with the council and our other partners, including health organisations, residents and community groups, to ensure the success of the new early years centre and community facilities."

Hammersmith & Fulham MP Iain Coleman, who is also chair of the NDC Partnership board, said: "The new early years centre and the state-of-the-art facilities will be a fantastic resource at the heart of the community. The North Fulham NDC Partnership board is proud to be able to give its unanimous support to such a worthwhile project."

Lorraine Manford, headteacher of Normand Croft Community School for Early Years and Primary Education, said: "The new centre will better meet the needs and aspirations of the children, staff and the wider community. We are delighted that the NDC Partnership has given us their financial backing. Our highly-skilled staff will work together to ensure the new early years centre offers local children and their families the very best care and education."

The borough's mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, said: "We are thrilled that the North Fulham NDC Partnership has rewarded our faith in this project by giving us their full support and we look forward to working with them and other local organisations to make it a great success."