A new children's nursery is set to open as part of a housing development in Woodstock.

Park View Nursery is a joint project between Oxfordshire County Council, Pye Homes and Blenheim Estate.

The project also includes the expansion of two schools, Woodstock CE Primary and The Marlborough School, both in Woodstock.

Scheduled to open its doors on July 15, the nursery, which is part of the Park View residential development, will offer year-round care for children aged between nine months and four years.

It will present a range of options, including 88 government-funded places and the opportunity for families to opt for longer hours on a fee-paid basis, a feature aimed at assisting busy families.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said: "Woodstock's youngest children will benefit in so many ways from this exciting development.

"The design of both the building and play area ensures a first class environment for their educational and development needs.

“Working in partnership, in this case with housing developers, Oxfordshire County Council is delivering on its commitment to provide high quality inclusive education, giving every child the very best start in life.”

The nursery building has been designed to create a "welcoming and nurturing space to support both active play and quiet times".

Emphasis has been placed on the importance of natural daylight and the building incorporates features such as CO2 monitors that automatically open vents to bring in fresh air as necessary.

The outdoor space features a covered area and all-weather surface with some permanent play structures.

Rubber safety surfacing has been designed with "attractive patterns to stimulate imagination and creative play".

Lorraine Wheatley, co-director of Park View Nursery, said: "We are excited to create an inclusive and high quality learning environment where children will thrive and learn independently, led by their own interests and ideas.

“Our approach is to deliver outstanding early childhood education by providing rich opportunities through play, skills such as concentration, curiosity, and a love for the natural world.”

Roger File, managing director of real estate at Blenheim Estate, added: "As part of Blenheim Estate’s purpose to grow our social, environmental and economic contribution to the local community, we are proud to be involved with projects like this fantastic new nursery, which will benefit so many."

Graham Flint, managing director of Pye Homes, the build partners for Blenheim Estate Homes, said: “We are pleased to have delivered another outstanding facility for the local residents to use, continuing with our long-standing commitment to our neighbours and local communities.”