A BILINGUAL nursery that will teach in both English and Japanese is set to open in Ealing next term.

Miyabi nursery will be located at the Wasps Great Hall in Acton and is due to open on January 8.

Founder, Zekél Atherley, told Nub News: "I've coached many Japanese kids and have spent a lot of time in Japan.

"Their culture is very different to ours and I thought it would be great to combine the best of both Japanese and British childcare and create Miyabi."

All three members of staff hired so far are fluent in both English and Japanese, with the headmaster, Dr Sebastian Fuller, having lived and taught in Japan for over 15 years.

Atherley, who runs a tennis and football club, has been working on opening the nursery for the past two years, after a Japanese mother told him that she would send her kids to a nursery that would teach both Japanese and English.

He said: "We have a large number of Japanese families in the area, with some wanting to send their kids to an English primary school after nursery.

"At the same time, some parents don't feel ready to send their kids to an English nursery straight away due to the culture shock and want something more familiar to them.

"This is where we come in, a nursery that teaches in both languages and cultures, with kids being able to then continue onto an English state school, having created a bridge for them from a Japanese household into an English school."

Atherley stressed the fact that the school isn't only for Japanese children, but is all-inclusive for kids from different backgrounds.

"Children that grow up learning two languages tend to do better at school, so there is an advantage in sending your child to a nursery like ours," he added.

At the same time, he aims to keep class sizes small in order to ensure that each child is receiving enough attention.

He said: "Although the hall has the capacity for up to 70 kids, our limit will be between 45 and 50, as we want to make sure we can focus on each individual child."