Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/183

Contact: Diane Cameron, School Organisation Officer Tel: (01865) 816445

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CMDCEF4).

The proposal is to close West Kidlington Nursery School and alter the age range at West Kidlington Primary School to enable the establishment of a Nursery class. This will effect a “merger” between the two currently separate establishments.

The introduction in April 2011 of the Early Years Single Funding Formula, which funds eligible children attending settings, rather than the number of places provided (as previously), means there is now no financial advantage in the two establishments being separate.

This proposal’s intention is to maintain the same level of high quality early years places while improving the financial viability and long term future of this provision.

As set out under Rule 17(a) of the Overview & Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision is exempt from Call-In as it is deemed urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, in that the decision must be made within 2 months of the close of the notice period; as a consequence, it is necessary for the Chairman of the Council to determine that the decision cannot be subject to ‘call-in’ as this would, in most cases, prevent a decision being finalised within the required timescale and mean that the Cabinet Member’s role would be negated by referral to the Schools’ Adjudicator.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families is RECOMMENDED to approve the closure of West Kidlington Nursery School and the linked extension of age range of West Kidlington Primary School.