PARLEZ-vous Francais? Children in Bromsgrove are learning to do just that in a new class aimed at giving them a head start across the Channel.

French graduate Nicola Drinkwater is hoping more primary schools and parents will take up the chance for their children to learn the language and culture of France while they're still young.

The Government wants to phase in the teaching of a second language for primary school children by the year 2010 and Nicola is in at the start as a licensee for La Jolie Ronde, a fun course aimed at children as young as two.

"I've been doing this since January," said Nicola, who lives in Bromsgrove.

"The lessons are thirty-minute sessions and they're designed to be fun with songs, rhymes and games.

"The children can absorb information very easily at that age so it's useful to give them a start for when they're older."

She has groups at Meadows First School, Millfields, Sidemoor, Fairfield, Tardebigge and St Mary's RC in Studley as well as the Bright Eyes and Daisy Chain nurseries in Bromsgrove.

A total of 150 children are taking part, with the youngest pupil aged just two.

"In other countries, the children learn English from a very early age," said Nicola, aged 28, who lived in France for a year.

"With closer ties among European countries, a second language is more important than ever.

"I'm trying to persuade parents not to leave it until 2010 but to start now."

Nicola fits in the after-school and lunchtime classes with looking after her own 17-month-old daughter, Emilia, but she doesn't have the time to expand the scheme to other schools as much as she would like.

She's now looking to take on another tutor, preferably a French graduate, to help out and give more children the chance to learn.

She can be contacted on 01527 875128.