BRADLEY Melia is a star pupil at his school - but then, his mum did buy it for him.

After he was born with a rare medical condition which meant he needed constant supervision mum Carole struggled to find a nursery which could take him.

So she decided to start one of her own.

Despite a lack of educational experience the first nursery, Ollier House, proved a success.

And when Bradley was old enough to start school, Carole decided to build on her achievement and took over Grafton House Preparatory, in Ashton under Lyne.

Four years later the school has more than 100 pupils, has been extended, is fully registered with the Department For Education and Skills and has been praised by government inspectors.

As well as running the school and a nursery in Denton, Carole rents out two other nurseries and has plans for another. Her business has a turnover of £650,000.

Surprise

Even Carole, who lives in Hollingworth, admits to being surprised by her success.

And, had her son's illness not coincided with redundancy from her £15,000-a-year job at the end of her maternity leave, she admits she may never have taken the plunge.

She said: ''At first I was going to stay at home, but I couldn't have coped with sitting at home all day.

''I do look at what I have achieved now and wonder how I have done it in such a short period of time. I am very proud of what I have achieved.''

When Bradley, now eight, was born he suffered from gastroscisis, which meant his intestines were on the outside of his body. After corrective surgery he needed constant monitoring.

Then Carole's partner Wayne came up with the idea of starting a nursery.

The nursery, in a converted dental laboratory, started with just three children and two nursery assistants - making huge losses. But within 12 months there were 40 children.

While Carole was in hospital having her daughter, Sarah, Tameside's social services department suggested she took over Grafton House Pre-School, which was to be closed within days unless a new owner could be found.

Rather than going straight home from hospital, Carole - with baby Sarah and several bouquets of flowers in the car - drove to the nursery, which she agreed to take on.

Eighteen months later Carole - who was looking for an independent school for her son - contacted the owners of ''struggling'' Grafton House Preparatory. And they agreed to sell it to her.

When she took over the school it had just 18 children and no fire certificate or full registration with the DFES.

It is now open 51 weeks a year, offering before and after school clubs as well as activities through the school holidays.

Bradley said: ''I like my mum being the owner. I am glad because it's nice that she is here all day.''

With classrooms of just a dozen pupils, teacher June Gudgeon likes the atmosphere that has been created in the school, on Warrington Street.

She said: ''It is a lovely atmosphere. And that means you can teach rather than dealing with discipline problems all the time.''