A WORCESTERSHIRE nature centre has blazed the way for other schools with its pioneering classroom designed to stimulate children's learning.

The county's education authority will become the first in Britain to use the futuristic classroom, which has been designed with youngsters in mind, when it becomes a learning centre at Bishops Wood Environmental Centre, near Stourport-on-Severn.

World-renowned architect and artist Roger Dean developed the building after becoming involved in a project in the 1960s to design the ideal bedroom to improve children's sleep and eliminate nightmares.

The research found that youngsters wanted smaller "den-like'' areas so that they could have privacy, and this led to the circular pod-like rooms of the prototype building.

Sheila Sage, Early Years inspector with Worcestershire County Council, said the building was the first to be designed with children consulted at every stage to ensure it provided exactly what they wanted.

This meant that the building - which will be covered in earth to make it more energy efficient and allow it to blend into the landscape - would stimulate children's learning.

"Children love to be interactive with the environment, but while they love to run around outside they also want to be able to go somewhere where they can talk and be in private," she said.

''This building will be somewhere children will be able to relate to and they will become more enthusiastic about learning."

The building will provide a natural learning school, training and research facilities for teachers of Early Years education, as well as offering an outdoor education facility.

The environment centre, which has received international recognition for its work in education through its outdoor facilities and "green" building, is run by a partnership of the county council, the National Grid and Worcester College of Technology.

Julien Kramer, director of education with the county council, said the classroom was another example of the authority leading the country in environmental and educational issues.

"We believe this is a first which will be highly beneficial for children's learning," he said.

"This is very prestigious for the county and a good example of people in Worcestershire working together to boost children's achievements.''