A Carlisle school is opening its own nursery in September, taking three-year-olds.

Julie Willows, headteacher of Newlaithes Infants School in Morton, said it was a logical step.

"Because the government has increased the number of funded hours, demand has increased. We’ve had a lot of people asking for it.

“We work with quite a lot of feeder nurseries right the way across Carlisle. If we’ve got our own nursery we would still want to do that.”

The nursery will be in what is currently the school’s Rainbow Room.

It will have 26 full-time (30 hours a week) places. More children than that can attend as some will be part-time.

The infants school is full to its 180 capacity and has been for several years.

Julie became head in 2009, having previously been deputy here.

She and her staff are in charge but pupils have a say as well.

The school council consists of 12 children: a boy and a girl from each class. The children vote for their representatives.

“You would think they would vote for their friends,” says Julie. “But they don’t. They are so sensible.

“We do some lessons with them first. We explain that everybody has a different opinion, and that’s okay. “[MP] John Stevenson has been in and talked to the children about democracy.

“If they want to be voted for, they have to stand up and explain why they think they would make a good school councillor.”

Responsibilities include choosing play equipment. The council’s ideas have included having some children on duty at break times to look after their fellow pupils.

“If someone hasn’t got someone to play with them, they find them someone to play with.

“The school council has been to the city council chamber and talked about what they would do to improve Carlisle.

“They’re great. They’re so confident. One said that the Cumberland Infirmary should do more so people don’t have to travel to Newcastle.”

The pupils have just decided which charities they want to support this year.

One girl’s baby sister had meningitis, so Meningitis Now is among the charities being backed. The others are Guide Dogs and Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Last year the school councillors had a day trip to the Houses of Parliament.

All children get the chance to go on trips. Year 2 has a one-night residential at Hawes End, Derwentwater.

Last year Newlaithes marked its 50th birthday. There have only ever been four headteachers, all of whom attended the celebrations.

Julie is proud to be at the helm. “It’s a lovely school. I’ve got a great team of people. They want the best for the children.

“All the staff want for the children what they would want for their own children. If you work on that principle you’re not going to go far wrong.

“We want them to be happy. To have the confidence to have a go at something new. And not to give up if it doesn’t work out.”