PARENTS and staff are to give their views on the possible closure of two nursery schools in Darlington.

Eastbourne and Heathfield nurseries could close next April if proposals to create alternative Foundation Stage departments at two schools are approved.

The new departments, for the three to five-year-olds, would be set up at Dodmire Infant School and Heathfield Primary School, where intake from the respective nursery schools is high.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday is expected to approve a six-week consultation period, beginning on Friday, November 10.

If there are no objections made in that time, the proposal will go ahead and the Foundation Stage departments will be operating by the start of next year's summer term.

The council sees the moves as appropriate, particularly because Dodmire Infant School has a falling roll and increased space.

Geoffrey Pennington said in a report to the cabinet: "Children will benefit from the opportunity to progress through the foundation stage and into key stage one in the same school."

During the consultation period discussions will be held separately with staff of the two nursery schools, who could lose their jobs.

Mr Pennington said where possible governors at the primary and infant schools would be encouraged to appoint staff from the relevant nursery school if any vacancies arose.

Final plans to close the village primary school in Sadberge in June 2005 have also been approved.

The closure of Sadberge CE Primary School has been approved by Darlington Borough Council's director of education Geoff Pennington.

The decision has been taken after the council received no objections to the closure, which was publicised for six weeks from September 12.

The move is part of larger plans to create a £3m Rural East Darlington School at Middleton St George, which is only a couple of miles from Sadberge.

The council's cabinet will also note the closure of Sadberge Primary School at Tuesday's meeting.