Parents are joining their children in the classroom at a specialist language centre - to learn French, Spanish and German.

The Parents 'N' Kids classes are being held at Holy Family School, Keighley, which last year won language college status from the Department of Education.

The first class - aimed at mums and dads and their ten and 11-year-old offspring - was held on Wednesday between 4pm and 5pm.

It is part of a package of language classes, running for the next four weeks, which also includes Mandarin Chinese.

Tim Garthwaite, of Bradford Council's Interfaith Centre, who helped draw up the bid for language college status, said the classes were aimed at children coming new to the languages.

"It gives them a chance to get involved and for their parents to work alongside them. Parents can help in the discovery of a new language for their children and also hopefully get involved themselves as part of a lifelong learning experience." he said.

"We got students for all the classes on the first night and we are very pleased with the response. Having established the classes, we will now be building them up."

Classes for adult beginners are also being held in the same three languages and sessions have been arranged for people interested in Mandarin Chinese. They are being run by Damian Howells, a Chinese specialist from Leeds University, and the aim is also to explore the culture of the country, said Mr Garthwaite.

A Japanese assistant teacher is due at the school over the next few months and it is hoped to involve her in a number of projects in the community.

Plans are also in the pipeline to organise language classes in Arabic, Urdu and Bangla in conjunction with the Sangat community centre in Keighley, added Mr Garthwaite.

Holy Family won £100,000 from the Government to set up the language classes after presenting a detailed bid and raising matched funding of £100,000 in just eight months last year. A new language block is expected to be built by this September.

The Government has also pledged to pay out £80,000 a year for the next three years towards the project, which involves working in the community.

Anyone wanting more details about the classes can telephone the school on (01535) 210212. The cost of each class is £2 a night or £6 for all four sessions.

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