Key Decision Report

1 Background

1. 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.
    
2. Manchester Road Primary School is currently a 2 form entry school in the Droylsden West ward. The Key Decision taken on 3 rd October 2007 by the Cabinet Deputy for Children and Young People on the Droylsden Primary and Nursery Places Review decided to consult on reducing the published admission number (PAN) at Manchester Road Primary School to 45 (1.5 entry) from September 2009 through the annual consultation on admission arrangements. The school does not have a maintained nursery. The Key Decision taken in October further decided to consult on establishing a 26 part time place (13 FTE) maintained nursery at Manchester Road Primary School from September 2008. The consultation gave consideration to the impact on education and school management, access and traffic management and the efficient and effective use of resources on a constrained site.

2 Consultation Process

1. During October and November 2007, consultation was undertaken on the establishment of a 26 part time place (13 full time equivalent) place nursery at Manchester Road Primary School from September 2008 (See Appendix 1). The Council sent copies of the Consultation Document to:
    
   • Manchester Road Primary School
   • Neighbouring Authorities
   • Professionals Associations
   • Ward Councillors
   • The Manager of Children's Centres and Extended Schools Service.
   • Sunshine Pre School
      
2. The consultation document was published and distributed to parents and governors via the school and groups involved in the review. The document was also available on the Council's website.
    
3. In the course of consultation on the options, the Council has met with:
    
   • Parents, staff and governors of Manchester Road Primary School
   • Representatives of Sunshine Pre School
      
4. All consultees were given the opportunity to respond in writing.

3 Responses To Consultation

1. The Council received five written responses to the consultation by the due date. Responses were from the governing body of Manchester Road Primary School , the Manager Of Sunshine Pre School and three parents. A written response was made to all respondents. A further 11 responses from Manchester Road Primary School staff, all of which were in favour of the proposal, were after the consultation closed.
    
2. There were two objections to the proposal, one from the manager of Sunshine Pre School and one from a parent who is also a neighbour of the school. The governing body and the other two parent respondents were in favour of the proposal. The concerns raised in the objections are set out below together with the Council's response.
    
   

   Concerns expressed the manager of Sunshine Pre -School	Services for Children and Young People (SCYP) response
   Relationships between the pre-school and Manchester Road Primary School seem to have deteriorated.	At the meeting held with Sunshine Pre School during the consultation on 23 rd November 2007, this issue was discussed at length. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that a meeting between the Pre School and Manchester Road would help to resolve some of the issues. The Pre School agreed to contact the school and if a response to a request for a meeting was not forthcoming, officers from SCYP agreed to try to facilitate this.
   The new St Andrew's Church building (hopefully to be completed in 2009) will include a purpose built space for nursery provision.	SCYP were aware of the proposed new building from the original consultation meeting with Sunshine Pre School during the Droylsden Primary and Nursery Places Review in July and August 2007. At this stage, SCYP officers understood that funding had not been finalised for the new building. No response to the original consultation was received from Sunshine Pre School. The Key Decision on the Droylsden Primary and Nursery Place review effectively redistributed maintained nursery places within Droylsden as the number at Fairfield Road Primary School was reduced by at least 21 part time places and also reduced at St Mary's by 14 part time places taken together with the proposal to establish a 26 part time (13FTE) place nursery at Manchester Road Primary School.
   Parents who have spoken to Sunshine Pre School staff are dismayed with the proposals and feel that they do not represent value for money and that Sunshine Pre School can continue to provide the good standard of provision as currently.	SCYP have not received any responses from parents to the consultation reflecting these views. Manchester Road Primary School has experienced a fall in the number of pupils coming into the school over the last few years. This, alongside a reduction in the PAN at the school to 45, has released accommodation that could be remodelled into nursery accommodation. Funding to facilitate any proposed accommodation changes could be accessed through Early Years Entitlement Funding which is received directly from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), however, any proposal would need to provide an effective use of resources. The remodelling of the current space will also improve facilities for Reception pupils.
   Sunshine Pre School feels that it will lose Nursery Education Grant (NEG) funded children to the proposed nursery at Manchester Road Primary School and would have to consider all options in order to maintain provision for two year olds.	The Council has systematically reviewed maintained nursery places in the borough through a number of area reviews. Maintained nursery places are usually provided, following reviews, in ratios of 26 part time places to a 30 intake school, in line with staffing ratios of 1:13. This would ordinarily mean that a school with an admission number of 45, as in the case of Manchester Road Primary School , would have a 39 part time place nursery. Part of the rationale in proposing a 26 part time place nursery was a recognition of the current provision at Sunshine Pre School. Officers feel that they have significantly and substantively taken Sunshine Pre School into account in planning future nursery provision in Droylsden. In 2007, an analysis of Manchester Road Primary School 's reception class intake showed that 13 children came from Sunshine Pre School. A further 36 pupils came from other nursery providers or had not attended nursery provision. This would seem to indicate that children in the area will continue to access provision in a number of providers. During the meeting with Sunshine Pre School on 23 rd November 2007, several ideas were discussed to fully utilise the proposed new building. These included full time wrap around care for children attending both Sunshine Pre School and proposed nursery provision at Manchester Road Primary School , school holiday provision including the potential for links with the Sports Development Trust and provision for two year olds. It was agreed that officers from SCYP could assist Sunshine Pre School to make appropriate links to facilitate some of these ideas.

3. The objection received from a parent raised the following concern:
    
   

   Concern

   Services for Children and Young People response

   Concerns relating to an increase in the number of people parking on Water Lane. Current traffic control measures such as ‘H' markings outside houses have had little effect.

   As stated in the consultation document, Manchester Road Primary School currently has a PAN of 60, a school population of 346 (October 07) and a net capacity (the total number of spaces available in school) of 420. Therefore, there are currently 74 spare places at the school. Reducing the PAN to 45 from September 2009 will reduce the net capacity of the school to 315 and, as larger year groups leave the school, these will be replaced by smaller year groups going into the school and the total number of children will gradually reduce. The effect of this is currently being seen within the school as classroom space has been released to enable a proposal to establish a nursery to be considered. The proposal to establish a 26 part time (13 FTE) place nursery should therefore not significantly increase traffic using Water Lane as some parents will already be travelling to the school with older children and the number of children attending the school will continue to reduce for a number of years.

   
   
4. Three responses were received in favour of the proposals. The Chair of the Manchester Road Primary School Governing Body responded to the consultation saying:
    
   “The Governor's wholeheartedly support the proposal for the provision of a 26 part time (13 full time equivalent) place nursery and Manchester Road, and see this as a positive move for the future of the school, and one which puts us on a level playing field with other schools in the Droylsden area.
    
   We have considered the development of a nursery as one of our main priorities within our strategic plan for the school, as we have first rate Early years (Foundation level) provision, which can only be further improved by the provision for nursery age children, so this proposal is welcomed by Governors, staff and parents alike.
    
   The Governors are very excited by the proposals, and are anxious that they are accepted by the LEA. We look forward to hearing of a positive outcome for Manchester Road , so that we can begin planning for September 2008.”
    
5. The other two responses in favour of the proposals were from parents who were interested in obtaining a place in the proposed nursery for their children. One respondent said:
    
   “At present I have to make a mad rush in the morning to drop my son off at Manchester Rd and then take my daughter to another nursery in Droylsden. To have them both in the same place would be of great advantage and good progression for my children. “

4 Financial Considerations

1. Capital - Manchester Road Primary School has been identified as a school that will potentially be replaced in the medium term (5 to 7 years) dependant upon funding available and the outcome of the consultation on the Primary Strategy for Change that will commence in January 2008 and be completed by June 2008. The reason that the school has been identified as a potential replacement scheme is that it is currently located in two separate Victorian buildings and temporary accommodation which although well maintained by the school, are considered unsuitable in the long-term for 21st Century primary education delivery and are also generally in poor condition. In addition the school occupies a constrained site with no adjacent playing field provision.
    
   The key decision taken in connection with the review of primary provision in Droylsden on 3rd October 2007, determined that the Council would consult on the establishment of a 26 place (13 FTE) maintained nursery at Manchester Road Primary School from September 2008. The consultation was required to give consideration to the impact on education and school management, access and traffic management and the efficient and effective use of resources on a constrained site. Therefore, it is important that any investment in the school delivers not only educational benefit but also value for money. The school currently has under utilised space that is capable of being remodelled to create a foundation stage unit for both the proposed nursery and reception aged pupils, without impacting adversely on the space available for the other pupils in the school due to the fall in intake from 60 pupils per year to a planned 45 pupils. However, if this space is utilised for a foundation unit, it would be extremely difficult to extend the school in future should the intake be increased beyond 45 pupils per year in the future, due to the site constraints
    
   A feasibility study has been undertaken to determine the best way of remodelling the school to create a foundation unit. A scheme costing £146,000 has been agreed with the school as the most appropriate to address not only the creation of the foundation unit but also remodelling of other areas of the school including the office accommodation The expenditure will be funded from £100,000 Sure Start Grant, £40,000 of the school's devolved formula capital grant and £16,000 from the capital programme. The work can be completed in time for the start of the 2008/2009 school year.
    
2. Revenue – the review of primary and nursery provision in Droylsden will deliver an overall net saving to the Dedicated Schools Budget of £75,000 per annum at 2007 / 2008 prices. However, the establishment of a 13 full time equivalent nursery unit will increase the Section 52 budget for Manchester Road Primary School by £32,000 per annum on the same basis, which will support the school to deliver the nursery provision and maintain the exiting buildings.

5 Other Factors Considered During The Consultation

1. Accommodation. The school has had declining numbers of pupils over the last few years. Currently, there are 346 pupils against a net capacity of 420. This has released accommodation within the school as there are no longer 2 classes per year group. This spare classroom space has been the focus of planning for the proposed nursery. Detailed architectural planning has been undertaken with the aim of meeting statutory space requirements for early years provision both inside and outside the school building. An appropriate plan has been prepared and costed to meet the requirements whilst having minimal impact on the running of the school and remaining within the funding available. The reduction in outside play space for other pupils in the school has been taken into account and the minimum amount of space has been identified for use in the proposed new Foundation Unit. The proposal for a 26 part time (13 FTE) place nursery is aiming to cater for current numbers within the school. The previous consultation on the wider Droylsden area showed that there has been an increase in the birth rate for the last 3 years and also that there were significant surplus places in Manchester Road Primary School and Fairfield Road Primary School. There is a risk that establishing a nursery at Manchester Road Primary School would increase demand for places at the school and it would not be able to increase its capacity on its present site.
    
2. Impact on current provision of education and management of the school. The Advisor for Early Years has met with the Headteacher of Manchester Road Primary School during the consultation. Advice given to the Headteacher regarding the staffing of the unit, child to adult ratios, the continuous use of the outdoor area as an extension of the learning space and monitoring of the planning to ensure the children have access to an appropriate curriculum. Recommendations were made regarding the organisation of the unit and furniture requirements. Additionally, the Headteacher was offered support from the Quality Team in preparation for the unit and for a meeting for all Foundation Stage around the role of the adult. Training courses for all Foundation Stage staff were identified and the Headteacher was advised to access the data training for headteachers.

6 Summary

1. The consultation to establish a 26 part time (13FTE) nursery at Manchester Road Primary School was the result of the Droylsden Primary and Nursery Places Review. It was decided that t he consultation would give consideration to the impact on education and school management, access and traffic management and the efficient and effective use of resources on a constrained site. Manchester Road Primary School is the only school in Droylsden without a maintained nursery.
    
2. Consultation took place during October and November 2007. The final report is the result of the consultation process. It summarises the comments and concerns voiced by governors, staff and parents.
    
3. The Council received five written responses to the consultation by the due date. Responses were from the governing body of Manchester Road Primary School , the Manager Of Sunshine Pre School and three parents. A written response was made to all respondents. A further 11 responses from Manchester Road Primary School staff, all of which were in favour of the proposal, were after the consultation closed.
    
4. There were two objections to the proposal, one from the manager of Sunshine Pre School and one from a parent who is also a neighbour of the school. The governing body and the other two parent respondents were in favour of the proposal. The concerns raised in the objections focused on the new St Andrew's Church building that is planned that includes nursery accommodation and the perceived impact that a nursery at Manchester Road Primary School would have on Sunshine Pre School. There was also a concern about the potential for the nursery to lead to increased traffic on Water Lane. The governing body of Manchester Road Primary School and two parents wrote in favour of the proposal. Specifically, the governors have considered the development of a nursery as one of the main priorities within the school's strategic plan, as they feel that the school has first rate Early years (Foundation level) provision, which can only be further improved by the provision for nursery age children, so this proposal is welcomed by Governors, staff and parents alike.
    
5. This report considers the concerns raised in the objections and other factors relating to accommodation within the school and the impact of the nursery on current provision in the school and concludes that:
    
   • Sunshine Pre School have significantly and substantively been taken into account in planning future nursery provision in Droylsden. Current data indicates that children in the area will continue to access provision in a number of providers.
   • Manchester Road Primary School has experienced a fall in the number of pupils coming into the school over the last few years. This, alongside a reduction in the PAN at the school to 45, has released accommodation that could be remodelled into nursery accommodation.
   • The reduction in the number of children coming into the school together with bigger year groups leaving the school will mean that the school population will gradually reduce over the coming years. The proposal to establish a nursery should not significantly increase traffic using Water Lane as some parents will already be travelling to the school with older children and the number of children attending the school will continue to reduce for a number of years.
   • Following advice from the Early Years Advisor, the school are aware of issues relating to staffing of the unit, child to adult ratios, the continuous use of the outdoor area as an extension of the learning space and monitoring of the planning to ensure the children have access to an appropriate curriculum. The school have been offered support and training manage these issues.
      
6. Taking all of these factors into account, it is therefore recommended that a notice is published to expand the age range to establish a 26 part time (13 FTE) place maintained nursery at Manchester Road Primary School from September 2008.

7 Recommendations

1. To publish a notice to expand the age range to establish a 26 part time place (13 FTE) maintained nursery at Manchester Road Primary School from September 2008.