Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/185

Contact: Debbie Rouget, Sufficiency and Access Manager, Early Years & Childcare Tel: (018654) 810617

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CMDE5).

St Peter's CE Primary School has completed the first section of the County Council scheme for applying to open a Foundation Stage Unit. If approved this will allow the School to publish statutory notices to lower the age range at which they admit pupils from 4 to 3 years of age. 

Most of the pupils who attend the school have had their pre school experience in Cassington Pre-school which is in a small prefabricated building on the School site. This unit is reaching the end of it's useful life and is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.  Both the School and the pre school work closely in partnership to ensure smooth transitions for children. The School has successfully bid for a share of Local Capital Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP) money to fund a permanent extension to create a new FSU. The School and pre-school together have also fundraised in excess of £25,000 to put towards the project.

If the project is approved, the pre-school will close and the staff will transfer to the school. The extension will create a purpose-built foundation stage unit to house the F1 to F3 age group. The School Headteacher has the full support of the pre school staff in making this application.  The school intends to offer childcare for 2 1/2 year olds to ensure this provision isn't lost with the closure of Cassington Pre-school. The school will register with Ofsted for this purpose.

The School has consulted governors, parents, partnership schools and private and voluntary pre school providers in the area on these proposals and no objections have been received.

The Cabinet Member for Education is RECOMMENDED to agree to the publication of statutory notices to take this proposal forward to the next formal phase.