ITEM CMDSI5 CA407BINET
MEMBER FOR SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT – 4 APRIL 2007 Report by
Director for Children Young People & Families Introduction 1. The County Council scheme for applications from schools to open new nursery classes has been revised in the light of new local and national organisational arrangements. This report seeks approval for the revised scheme. A copy of the scheme is attached at Annex 1 (download as. doc file). Purpose of the Scheme 2. The scheme enables a headteacher and governors of a primary school without nursery provision, to apply to the County Council for approval to publish notices to lower the age range attending the school and set up a new nursery class. The scheme is particularly suited to those schools that do not have a pre-school to work with in partnership either on site or nearby. The school must be in a position to fund any building alterations required to accommodate the youngest children appropriately both indoors and outdoors. Need for Revision 3. The scheme currently in place for approval of such a scheme is out of date. The District Liaison Panel which formed part of the former approval process no longer exists, and the role of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is being reviewed from April 2007. These factors, together with new delegated decision making processes of the Cabinet and the phasing out of the School Organisation Committee from May 2007 has created a need for a new application and approval process to be formalized. Key Changes in the New Scheme 4. The terminology has been revised to bring it up to date and the following elements have been substantially changed: - The revised approval process (see pages 8-9 of the document attached at Annex 1)) replaces the previous District Liaison Panel and Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership process - A financial assessment template has been added (new Annex 5 of the scheme - not attached) - Updated information regarding staffing qualifications had been included (see page 6 of Annex 1) Financial and Staff Implications 5. There are no new financial or staffing implications in this scheme. Start up costs awarded on approval are proposed to be inflated from £7,000 to £9,000 (see paragraph 3.2 of the scheme) as they had not been revised for at least 6 years. These costs will be met from existing budgets and funded from the Dedicated Schools Grant. RECOMMENDATION 6.
The Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement is RECOMMENDED
to approve the revised scheme. KEITH BARTLEY Background papers: Nil Contact Officer: Annie Davy, Head of Early Learning and Childcare Tel: 01865 815493 March 2007
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