AN Oxford primary school has finally opened an educational after-hours school club after a four-year wait.

Botley Primary School, in Elms Road, opened the weekday club this week because it believes there is a shortage of childcare in the area - although it has been more than four years in the planning.

The club, for five- to 11-year-olds, received a £10,000 grant from Oxfordshire County Council's childcare fund four years ago but was unable to open the club due to building work taking place at the Elms Road Children's Centre, used by Elms Road Nursery and the school.

Headteacher Mark Prowen said: "We've got high hopes for the after-school club. We want it to expand and we're very fortunate to have a very large site here.

"We've been trying to set it up for four years now, but because of the building work here it needed to be delayed.

"There's quite a serious shortage of childminders in the area. We don't want to do anyone out of business, so we sent out a survey to parents last year and a lot of them replied that there was nowhere to leave their children."

The club will offer a mix of educational activities such as reading, arts and crafts and offering children an opportunity to do their homework as well as providing food and refreshments.

If the club proves a success, the school wants to follow it up with a before-school care club.

Judy Roberts, school governor and chairman of the after-school club committee, said: "We're mainly expecting demand from working parents who don't finish work until after 5pm and can't get here to pick up their children.

"It can be hard to find childcare for just that short period of time. The parents are very keen. We've had a lot of calls from them asking when it's going to open.

"It's an exciting new venture for the school and provides a safe and happy environment for the children. It's a solution to the modern problem of working parents."

Club play leader Shalena Rahman said: "The sessions have been very successful so far, the kids are having lots of fun. The parents have been waiting a long time for this club to open."

The club, which is open to any children in Botley, runs from 3.15pm to 6pm and costs £8 a session.