AFTER school clubs in York are to benefit from a £1 million funding boost.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has awarded new additional capital funding of £1,010,743 over two years to support schools to extend their services by 2010.

Bids were invited from all schools other than those which were proposed for designation as an Integrated Children's Centres (ICC), as these had already received funding.

All city schools were circulated with details of the funding and a total of 18 bids were received. These will go before councillors at a meeting next week for approval.

The bidding forms and criteria were developed by staff from City of York Council's Early Years and Extended Schools Service with all bids independently scored by project managers from planning and resources.

One of the larger bids came from St Paul's Nursery and St Paul's C of E Primary, in Holgate, where a request for £250,000 has been earmarked to be given the green light.

The money would be put towards building a community room for use by both schools and the local community, daytime and evening. In addition funds would be used to equip the room for a variety of organisations and needs.

Head teacher Susan Mistry said the money could be used for extended school activities across the school day, and will include an admin base for the joint activities.

At Stockton-on-the-Forest, the school, nursery and local community will all be able to benefit from a baby room on the front of the nursery, baby change area and a small kitchen, thanks to £170,000.

Head teacher Jane Nellar said: "We are delighted. We weren't sure we would get it, but it will mean a great deal for everyone here."

Meanwhile, at Copmanthorpe Primary, the school plans to convert an existing caretaker's bungalow for extended school day care provision.

The total cost of the project is £40,000, with £29,000 coming from the Extended Schools Fund (ESF) and the rest being made up by the school.

Head teacher Judith Rigg said: "We're excited that it looks like we will be getting this money from the council. It would mean we can further our partnership for early years provision in Copmanthorpe and further our tradition for children coming into school."

At Dringhouses Primary, a bid for £5,500 to build a canopy cover between three adjacent sides of the building to provide a year-round outdoor play for the school's breakfast club has been earmarked for approval.

The council's executive member for Children's Services and Advisory Panel will meet in the Guildhall on Monday.