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ITEM EX11 - ANNEX 1

EXECUTIVE - 13 MAY 2003

PROPOSALS FOR NEW EARLY YEARS UNITS

1. St. Thomas More RC Primary School, Kidlington and St. Thomas More RC Nursery.

Proposal

• The proposed PEYU will provide for children from age 3 years until the end of the reception year, within the parish of St. Thomas More Kidlington and St. Hugh of Lincoln Woodstock.
• The application is for 30 places am and pm, with those children in the reception year offered a full time place for the whole year - government funded am and fees payable pm (supported by NOF finding). An after school club is planned by the school.

• Substantial building project to be completed in which the old kitchen is to be converted to enable the nursery to re-locate from its own on-site temporary building. Double doors between this and current reception class will allow for flexible use of space. 3 toilets and wash hand-basins to be provided within the unit.

• Space inside is judged to be adequate for the number of places requested.
• The creation of the unit will not affect accommodation within the school for KS1 and KS2 pupils.

• Outside play area to be fenced off. Existing early years outdoor area has sufficient space for new unit.

B. Christopher Rawlins School, Adderbury and Adderbury Pre-school.

• The proposed PEYU will provide for children from the age of 3 years until the end of the reception year from the villages of Adderbury and Twyford.
• Forty two children will be taught in the unit at any one time, 26 fte in the reception class and 16 fte in the pre-school. Full day-care is available for children from the age of 3 years in the pre-school and this will be offered to the reception children. An after school club is available for children aged 5+.

• Room to be used for reception is currently used by reception/year 1. Pre-school are already located in the next room.
• Pre-school has toilets but the older children have only 6 shared toilets and wash hand-basins with KS1 pupils. Separate provision budgeted for in 2006.
• The creation of the unit will not affect existing or future demands on accommodation.

C. Blewbury Primary School and Blewbury Pre-school Playgroup.

• The proposal is for the school to provide for 26 children during their reception year in the EYU and the pre-school to continue to provide for 24 three and four year olds in their current building, which is on a different site.
• There is the possibility of developing all day provision, with EYU children escorted from school to pre-school after lunch.
• There are no plans to relocate the pre-school onto the school site. (In the light of this, the application has been treated as a proposed EYU, with assessments carried out only on the school site).

• Space in the classroom meets the requirement for number of places requested. There are also 4 toilets and wash hand-basins within the unit. A concern was expressed that the external door in this area leads to the main school playground. Security therefore needs to be addressed.
• The creation of the unit will not affect accommodation within the school for KS1 and KS2 pupils.

D. Langford Village Primary School, Bicester and Cygnets Pre-school.

• The proposed PEYU will provide education and childcare for children from the age of 3 to the end of the reception year for the children of Langford Village, Bicester.
• The estimated number of children to be taught is 90 fte (60 fte will be in the reception base and 30 fte in the nursery base) This will increase the number of places offered to 3, 4 and 5 year olds, reducing the pre-school waiting list.
• During their reception year, all children will be offered full-time provision from combined government and parental funding. Wraparound care is being considered.

• Two classrooms and resource base to be used for reception children. Pre-school to move into recently extended nursery area.
• Whole area meets space requirements. Sufficient toilets for nursery area. Additional (up to 3) toilets needed for reception children. Plans in place to provide these for Sept. 2003.
• The creation of the unit will not affect accommodation for KS1 and KS2 but if the school expands as predicted in the forecasts, there will be pressure on accommodation in future.

E. Sonning Common Primary School and Sonning Common Pre-school.

Historical Context

In April 2002, Sonning Common Primary School applied to the panel to develop an EYU. Concerns were raised about the impact of this provision on the existing, on-site (Sonning Common) and other (Peppard) local pre-school and also highlighted the need to develop a designated outdoor area. The school was asked to explore the possibility of closer collaboration with both Sonning Common and Peppard pre-schools.

Proposal

The current application is to provide 50 places in 2 classrooms for EYU children, with Sonning Common pre-school continuing to provide for the 3 year olds in their own, on-site, building in the mornings and using one of the above classrooms to offer afternoon sessions (payable) for the 4 year olds. One of the rooms is yet to be equipped.

External Accommodation

The outside environments for each part of the provision are well-developed. Although the EYU outdoor area to which the children will have free access does not meet the space requirements, the small playground and the remaining extensive grounds are available except during school playtimes. The outdoor area itself is being imaginatively developed to provide for all areas of the curriculum with the participation of the children.

Staffing

The current reception teacher and staff from both Sonning Common and Peppard pre-schools plan topics jointly and share staff meetings. They also share resources and Sonning Common pre-school uses the school facilities.

There is one teacher already in post and the school will advertise for the other and for support staff for September 2003.

Officer Recommendation: Approve.

F. Great Rollright CE (A) Primary School and Great Rollright Pre-school.

• The proposed PEYU will offer provision for reception year children which is separate from Year 1 and a seamless Foundation Stage experience for children aged 3 to 5 years (The pre-school, which has not been operating due to lack of premises, will set up again.)
• The requested number of children to be taught in the unit is 30 fte – although both Premises and Early Years Team assessment judge classroom area as suitable for only 23 fte.

• The proposed PEYU will be in a new classroom, suitable for 23 fte.
• There are 2 toilets and wash hand-basins within the unit, which does not meet the required ratio. Other toilets are available close by but adult supervision would be needed.
• Forecasts suggest sufficient accommodation in school for KS1 and KS2 children, although based on planned admission number of 15, there would only be adequate classroom space for 8 pre-school children (i.e. maximum of 23 children in total).