A PRIMARY School in Sturminster Newton is asking the community what services it would like to see the school offer in the future.

William Barnes Primary School in Sturminster Newton is aiming to provide a whole range of activities for the community by 2010, but without stepping on the toes of others in the town, as part of the extended schools initiative.

Headteacher Polly Patrick said: "We have already asked parents what they would like to see and now we have moved on to community groups.

"The idea is to check out current provision in Sturminster and then go from there.

"We want it to be sustainable."

She added:"We don't want to jump in with both feet and provide what is already there."

The school could eventually provide more wrap-around' care for children to give working parents more flexibility, in line with government policy.

There could also be more use of the school for adult and community learning, study support and arts, sports and techonology activies.

Parents have given overwhelming support to more childcare options such as holiday clubs and breakfast and after school clubs and the school is hoping the wider community will come up with more suggestions.

The extended schools programme hopes to see all schools offering these types of services within the next four years but at the moment just 35 schools in Dorset are doing so.