AUTHOR Eileen Browne will officially open a Somerset school’s foundation unit next week.

The Stepping Stones unit at Rodney Stoke First School is one of very few of its kind in the county.

It includes an extended classroom, kitchen area and an enclosed outside play area, and provides a breakfast club.

Eileen, who has written several children’s books including Handa’s Surprise, will open the unit at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Cathy Lowe, headteacher, said: “We are delighted that Eileen has agreed to officially open our foundation unit.

“The unit gives children an excellent start to their education and its introduction has also enabled us to provide a breakfast club facility, which is proving very popular with working parents.

“Eileen will also be signing copies of her books during the afternoon.”