Establishment of a 39 Part Time (19.5 Full Time Equivalent) Place Nursery at Aldwyn Primary School and Motor Impaired Resource Base

Consultation Document

November 2006

Objectives

To change the age range of Aldwyn Primary School by the addition of a 39-part time (19.5 full time equivalent) place nursery in line with the Council's long-term aim that all primary schools in Tameside have their own nursery provision, wherever practical.

Background

It is the Council's long-term aim that all primary schools in Tameside have their own nursery provision, wherever practical.

The Council has a duty, under section 118 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, to secure sufficient nursery provision for all 3 and 4 year olds. This duty is currently met in Tameside. Such provision, however, may be provided through the voluntary and private providers and does not necessarily need to be made by the Council. The Council will also acquire, in the future, a duty under the Childcare Bill to ensure a sufficiency of childcare provision in the area.

The government's Ten Year Strategy, "Choice for Parents, the best start for children", published in December 2004, sets out key principles for local authorities to follow when planning and managing the delivery of free nursery provision. These include:

• The free entitlement (formerly nursery education) for 3 and 4 year olds, which should be delivered to consistently high standards and provide planned learning activities to help children to progress towards achieving the early learning goals of the Foundation Stage curriculum and its future replacement by the integrated education and childcare provisionally called the Early Development and Learning Framework for 0-5 year olds.
• Wherever possible parents should be able to combine the free education offer with affordable childcare.
• A duty to ensure a sufficiency of childcare.
• Expectancy that Local Authorities will manage the local childcare market to best advantage for children and their families.

The new Code of Practice on the Provision of Places for 3 and 4 year olds under the Free Entitlement to Nursery Education Places, extends the minimum free entitlement of 12.5 hours a week from 33 to 38 weeks for all three and four year olds with effect from April 2006. From April 2007, the minimum free entitlement will be extended to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks, for the first cohort of children. By 2008, the new minimum entitlement of 15 hours a week for 38 weeks will be in place for all three and four year olds, on the way to a longer term goal of 20 hours a week for 38 weeks. Parents will also eventually be able to use the free entitlement flexibly across a minimum of three days.

In summary, provision for under 5's is being developed along more flexible lines with an increase in free entitlement.

Identification of Need

Although not all three and four year olds attend private or community nurseries, there is a potential requirement for a maximum of 240 nursery places for children aged three and four years of age in the Audenshaw ward. It is, however, reasonable to assume that one third (80) of these children will receive their free entitlement in reception class bringing this requirement to 160 places.

There is currently a sufficiency of provision in the area across a range of providers.

Current Nursery Provision at Aldwyn Primary School

Aldwyn is a 1.5 form-entry primary school in Audenshaw ward. The school does not have a maintained nursery class. A private provider, Rocking Horse Childcare, operated out of the school building, providing the free entitlement. This provision is now being managed by Tameside Local Authority. This facility, along with the reception class, offers the foundation stage curriculum to 3 and 4 year olds. A 3 or 4-year-old child can attend for the free entitlement up to a maximum of 5 sessions ( 9:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:45 pm - 3:15 pm) in a week; any further sessions are chargeable to the parent. Continuous provision (8.00 am to 17.30 pm) is available.

The vast majority of children in the Reception class at Aldwyn Primary School attended the private provider, Rocking Horse, situated in the school building, for their free entitlement in the pre reception year.

Nursery provision attended by children in Reception at Aldwyn, 2003-2005

* Unknown refers to children who did not attend registered nurseries, they may have attended child minders or been looked after by family members.

** Redcot nursery is situated just inside the Droylsden boundary in Fairfield, but is within walking distance of Aldwyn School.

Proposed Nursery Provision at Aldwyn Primary School

Aldwyn Primary School is scheduled to co-locate with a local special school into new accommodation in 2007/8. The new building will be situated adjacent to the existing school.

It is proposed that a Foundation Stage unit with 39 part-time (19.5) nursery places is established at the new Aldwyn Primary School to provide the free entitlement to 39 three and four year olds from September 2007 in a replacement of the provision currently provided in the existing school building.

Reception and nursery staff would work together as part of the school's Early Years team. Although the main responsibility of the nursery staff would be to the early Foundation stage (nursery), they would also work with children in the later Foundation Stage (Reception) to facilitate fully integrated early year's education. All members of the Early Years team would follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

The school proposes to offer additional chargeable childcare provision (beyond the free entitlement) before and after school. Any additional childcare may be provided in partnership with a private provider.

Standards at Aldwyn Primary School

Aldwyn Primary School was last inspected by OFSTED in February 2005. At that time there were 38 children in the Reception class. The quality of teaching and learning was assessed as good throughout the school. The report found "good opportunities for learning are provided for children in the Reception classes".

The consultation process will take place as follows:

Step One: Consultation Meetings

A M meeting s will take place with governors, staff and parents of all schools Aldwyn Primary School affected within the scope of the review, local councillors and interested parties. The consultation period will be from 29 th November 2006 to 31 st January 2007.

Step Two: Key Decisions Report

The LEA will prepare a Key Decision Report for the Council based on the feedback received during the consultation process. The Council will decide on one of the whether to proceed with the proposal options and will publish statutory notices.

Step Three: Statutory Notices

Following the Key Decision, statutory notices will be published, which provide for a six-week period during which formal objections/comments may be submitted.

All those interested in responding to the consultation are invited to comment in writing to:

Catherine Moseley
Services for Children and Young People
Room 2.111, Council Offices,
Wellington Road,
Ashton-under-Lyne,
OL6 6DL
Send a Comment to Catherine Moseley no later than Wednesday, 31st January.