PLANS have been submitted for a children's centre in the east of York.

The plans for a new children's centre at Tang Hall Primary School have been submitted to City of York Council with new classrooms and community facilities all under one roof.

There are eight primary schools across the city earmarked to have Sure Start Intergrated Children's Centres (ICC) by 2008.

These will be at Hob Moor, Westfield, Clifton Green, Tang Hall, Haxby Road, St Lawrence's, in Heslington Road, New Earswick, and Carr Infants and Juniors in Acomb.

York has received £1.6 million for building work to be carried out. More than £200,000 of this is already being spent on building work at Clifton Green.

The remaining £1.4 million could now be split between Tang Hall and the five sites earmarked for the proposed centres. It is a requirement of the scheme that funding is used in those areas of the city experiencing the highest levels of socio-economic disadvantage.

The council has also secured £1.3 million of funding between now and 2008 to help support setting up and running of the centres.

Education chief Patrick Scott said the aim of the programme is to ensure schools can work in partnership with other organisations to offer nurseries, early-years centres and health facilities for parents.

These will be provided in partnership with other public and private sector organisations such as the health service, the police and children's services. It is part of the Government's five-year strategy for children and learners, which includes encouraging schools to stay open for longer hours, setting up breakfast clubs, after-school activities and holiday play schemes to help hard-working parents with childcare.

Sure Start is a Government programme which aims to help children, parents and communities by increasing the availability of childcare for all children, and by supporting parents.

Heworth Labour ward councillor Paul Blanchard said: "This is great news for parents, and great news for the local community in Heworth ward.

"When I was canvassing door-to-door during the election, someone said to me name one thing the Labour Government has done for the area' and I immediately replied Sure Start!' I'm very proud of Sure Start and the money that the Government is putting into it. Unlike people who criticise the schemes, I've actually been to see these centres, and those who have actually seen them come away bowled over."