CHILD care students at the West Somerset Community College in Minehead will be able to have a more hands-on learning experience thanks to the opening of a new on-site nursery and crêche.

The Acorns Nursery/Crêche is billed as the college's latest addition to its health and social care and early years department.

And as well as giving students somewhere to put their new qualifications into practice and to allow others to gain work experience, the facility will also give local parents a new child care facility.

Kate Derouiche, the college's subject leader for health and social care and early years, said anyone could use the nursery and crêche, but it would be especially useful for people visiting the college or using the on-site Harmony and Vision beauty and hairdressing salons.

She said students studying GCSE child development would be able to observe children's development within the nursery and crêche setting, while others could have the opportunity to get even more involved.

"Our Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education students who are training to work within the child care and education sector at level three will now have an additional setting which can provide a placement opportunity for a student in year 12," she said.

"In addition, a couple of our level two and three students in health and social care will have the opportunity to gain some work experience in Acorns Nursery.

"All our students will be able to see how good practice theory, which they learn as a central part of their course, is applied in practice in a highly professional setting."

Photo: Steve Guscott