Yarm School in North Yorkshire has been granted planning permission by Stockton Council to turn The Hermitage, an empty two-storey, detached early 20th century home, into a childcare facility, The Yorkshire Post has reported.

The plans include building a new one-storey ‘pavilion-style’ extension and the new facility will cater for up to 68 children as part of the Yarm School site.

Yarm School is a private co-educational institution for pupils aged from three to 18.

The school said dedicated open-plan spaces will be tailored to different age groups, with the ground floor for two to three-year-olds and the first floor for babies aged under two.

Yarm Town Council said the scheme would give the school “the opportunity to expand their facilities and will benefit the town”.

A design statement from Yarm School and BCHN Architects said: “There is limited provision in the Yarm area and many parents have requested that Yarm School considers admitting younger children. Currently, the school takes five two-year-olds for one school term before they turn three years old.

“Nationally the demand has increased as parents who had used family support are seeking nursery provision now it is funded and are also increasing the hours children attend as places become funded.

“As well as increasing the local provision for families who need high-quality childcare, the proposal will be beneficial for children who will attend Yarm School in the future to access the Yarm Nursery as this will allow for a very clear and smooth well-managed transition for the children. The zero to three years nursery will be of a high-quality provision with outstanding facilities and levels of care from highly skilled staff, which will add to the economic growth of the area by employing approximately 24 staff members from the local area.

“Whilst the site lies outside of Yarm conservation area, the aim is to provide new high-quality accommodation which will have minimal impact on the adjacent historic town.

“The aim is to provide a new contemporary, high-quality nursery accommodation for children aged three years and younger, which will be well-designed, spacious and robust.”

Yarm School headmaster Dr Huw Williams previously said: “We are excited to take this important step in expanding our early years provision with this new facility for children zero to three years old. Yarm has always been committed to providing an exceptional education from the very start of a child’s learning journey with us, and this new facility will allow us to extend that experience to even younger children.

“By creating a nurturing environment that upholds the school’s ethos, we will ensure a seamless transition for those continuing their education at Yarm while also supporting families in the wider community.”