IMPROVED nursery facilities could be provided at a Newport school as part of ambitions to reduce class sizes across the city.

Newport council has been given grant funding from the Welsh Government to reduce class sizes in a number of schools.

Plans have been submitted for a new standalone nursery at Maesglas Primary School, which shares a site with Maes Ebbw School, as part of the scheme.

The proposals would allow the existing nursery class within the main school building to be used by reception age children, offering better facilities and a larger base.

By releasing other classrooms within the school building the proposals will allow the average class size within the school to reduce from 30 to 24.

Reduced class sizes have been shown to benefit the early development of children and help their progression through the education system.

Welsh Government announced in February plans for 54 new classrooms in a bid to reduce infant class sizes across Wales.

Education minister Kirsty Williams gave details of a £36million fund for councils, including £16million to recruit additional teachers and £20m to build additional classrooms.

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Planning documents say two options were considered for the provision of the new nursery.

One was to extend the existing school building, but a plan for a standalone nursery was favoured as it will not cause as much disruption to the day to day operation of the school.

Under the plans the new nursery will be located in an area currently used for reading which has a willow circle and a small number of trees.

Three trees will be lost to allow the development, but they will be replaced.

A new fenced off path will provide pedestrian access to the nursery and improve pupil safety.

The scheme will not result in any increase in pupil numbers or the amount of staff at the school - which was built in 1948 and has not been improved or extended since then.

It is planned for the facility to be ready for use after the October half term, subject to planning permission.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "By providing schools with new classrooms and additional teachers we can allow teachers to devote more time and attention to individual pupils.

“Not only is this beneficial for the pupil and the teacher, but to the school’s ability to improve as a whole."