GOATHLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE AGE RANGE OF OUR SCHOOL AND CREATE A NEW NURSERY CLASS

 

 

 

The Governing Body of Goathland Primary School is proposing to make new Early Years provision for three and four year old children.  We would like to know the views of parents and other interested members of the community.

 

Why are the governors making these proposals?

                                                                                                      

All three and four year old children are entitled to 15 hours of government funding (known as Universal Funding) per week for 38 weeks per year to access Early Years Foundation Stage education and childcare.  This will be from the beginning of the school term following their third birthday until compulsory school age or until they take up a place in a Reception class.  From September 2017, eligible working families have been able to access up to an additional 15 hours of government funding known as Extended Entitlement to access the equivalent of 30 hours of government funded childcare per week for 38 weeks per year.  A government funded place can be taken in a maintained school nursery and Foundation Stage class and/or in an Ofsted registered private or voluntary sector provision.  It is parental choice as to which type of provision is most appropriate for their child and most convenient for individual circumstances.

 

Goathland Primary School is proposing to provide places for 3 and 4 year olds by creating a new Nursery class. Early Years staff would work together to provide an excellent environment for a young child’s development in Base 1.  The Nursery class will be led by Mrs Knight, who is a qualified Early Years teacher, and a suitably qualified and experienced teaching assistant to support the learning and development of the 3 and 4 year olds.

 

 

What would our new nursery provision look like?

 

It would be similar to what is currently available in the existing reception class in school.  There will be high quality play-based provision including role play, sand, water, construction, reading, mark making, and outside play.  The learning environment will be equipped with suitable furniture, equipment and resources for 3 and 4 year olds.  There will be free flow between the indoor and outdoor areas offering children the choice of activities and allowing them to engage in learning which is relevant and appropriate to their age and stage of development. They will be supported by knowledgeable and appropriately trained adults who are in tune with each child’s individual needs..

 

Why is this consultation taking place?

 

Currently the youngest children that the school can admit are in the reception class.  In order to take younger children into the proposed new nursery class, legal processes must be followed to lower the age range of the school from 4-11 years to 3-11 years.  The first step in this process is that local people must be asked for their views. As a Community Primary School, the Governing Body then needs to requests that the County Council’s Executive formally lowers the age range of the school in order to create the new Early Years provision.

 

 

How many places will be offered?

 

The proposed nursery class will provide up to 13 part-time early education places, each morning.

We are also considering options to offer ‘wrap around’ childcare places, and lunch if there is sufficient interest from families. This would extend the day from 9am to 3pm.                            Parents will be charged for this service.

 

Which children would be eligible for a place?

 

Priority for admission to the nursery class will be determined by the County Council’s Admissions Policy for Nurseries. Admissions to the nursery class are separate from admissions to the school, which are determined by the County Council’s policy for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools. Further details are available at: http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/26372/Admissions-policies

 

Deciding on admissions

 

The Headteacher will make the offer of a place in the ‘Early Years class’ in writing to parents and  carers.

 

How will the new Nursery class affect other providers?

 

The new nursery class would take children aged 3 and 4. Local Early Years’ providers are being consulted and have the opportunity to make their views on the proposal known.

 

What will happen next?

 

This is the first step of the consultation. Comments on this consultation will be considered by the Governing Body who will then decide whether to ask the County Council’s Executive to publish statutory proposals to lower the age range of the school on their website. This will provide a further period of four weeks in which views and comments can be made.

 

If these proposals go ahead, when will the new Nursery class open?

 

It is proposed that the first children will join the Nursery class in April 2022.

 

How do I make my views known?

 

Your views are important and we would value your opinions.

 

You should complete the attached comments sheet and return it to the school.

 

Comments should be returned by 3rd December 2021.

 

If you have any further queries, these should be addressed to Helen Isaac  (Headteacher )

 

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Goathland Primary School

 

CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE AGE RANGE AND CREATE A NEW FOUNDATION STAGE CLASS AT GOATHLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

 

Do you consider it desirable that the age range of the school is changed from 4-11 to 3-11 and a nursery class is set up at our school?          

 

            Yes                                                                                                 No  

 

 

Any further comments you would like to make:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name:             ____________________________________            Please tick the category you

                                                                                                            represent:

Address:          ____________________________________

 

                        ____________________________________            Parent

 

                        ____________________________________

 

                        ____________________________________            Governor                                

 

                        ____________________________________

 

                        ____________________________________            Other              

 

Post Code:      ____________________________________           

                                                                                                            Please specify _____________

 

Please return to Goathland Primary School

 

The closing date for receipt of responses is Friday 3rd December 2021

 

We are collecting this information for the purpose of gathering views on the proposal. Your personal data will not be published or passed to any other organisation unless a legal obligation compels us to do so. We may contact you to discuss your views further.