AFTER years of planning, Seashells Nursery has finally become a part of Minehead First School.

The formerly independent nursery had always had a close relationship with the school and this finally happened this half term.

Minehead First School head teacher Keith Mansell said: "“We have been planning this for a long time, and the school is so glad that this has finally happened.

"We are really looking forward to working with Seashells, and look forward to the children and families being part of our school."

This means the nursery is also part of the growing West Somerset Academies Trust.

Paul Rushforth, the Trust's CEO said: “Seashells has been a major force for good in Minehead. Not only is it an excellent nursery, but funding from its business has enabled the expansion of nursery places by establishing the new nursery at King Edward Road. I am delighted, as outgoing chair of the management committee at Seashells, to secure the future of not one, but two linked nurseries in Minehead as they join the West Somerset Academies Trust. This will benefit our whole community.”