A NURSERY near York is calling for more male teachers, saying they would help the youngsters achieve more.

The Old Station Nursery, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, teaches about 80 children aged five and under, as well as running after-school clubs for children aged up to eight.

Most of the pupils come from families stationed within the air base, but the school also caters for children in the surrounding villages.

The lack of male teachers is a concern for nursery bosses, as it means a shortage of male role models for the children.

Manager Victoria Jones said: “Male teachers are important for the children because they need male role models. I have worked with male teachers at other schools and the kids enjoy it more because they don’t have as much experience with them.”

A recent national survey showed that 66 per cent of single mothers worried about the lack of male role models throughout their child’s development, and 59 per cent of parents said there were no male teachers at their children’s nursery.

Ms Jones said: “Research has proved boys respond better to the deeper voice of a male, allowing them to achieve more when there are male teachers present.”

Sarah Steel, founder of the nursery, compared the problem with the lack of male nurses 20 years ago.

She said: “Nursing had always been perceived as a female occupation and male nurses were rare, but these days about 14 per cent of the nursing workforce is male and it is quite common to find male nurses at all levels of the profession.”