Consultation on the proposed transfer of Baliol School, Sedbergh to Forest Moor, Darley, Harrogate

Draft Statutory Proposal

Statutory Proposal by North Yorkshire County Council for the Lowering of the School Age Range at Goathland Community Primary School

Full Proposal Document

Name and contact details of the Local Authority or governing body publishing the proposal:

North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AE

Name, address and category of the school proposed for alteration:

Goathland Community Primary School, Beck Hole Rd, Goathland, Whitby YO22 5ND

Proposed Implementation date:

25 April 2022

Description of alteration and evidence of demand

To lower the age range of Goathland Community Primary School to provide places for 3 and 4 year olds.

The School Leadership report that they have had many enquiries over the last few years from parents asking if they have places for 3 and 4 year-olds and they believe that the lack of early years provision has been a negative for some prospective parents. The consultation that the school carried out in November 2021 has confirmed that there is demand for early years places at the school.

Objectives educational standards and parental choice

To provide additional Early Years provision for parents, pupils and the local community. Goathland School is proposing to provide places for 3 and 4 year old children as part of a nursery class provision in the school, which would be an extension of the existing Base 1 which includes Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. The Early Years Class would have a qualified Early Years teacher and suitably qualified and experienced teaching assistant who will provide a high-quality learning environment to support each child’s learning and development appropriate to their age and stage of development. It will be in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

From an educational point of view, the Local Authority Education Advisers have confirmed that as part of the annual risk assessment undertaken by the school Improvement service the school has been allocated 8.5 days of Senior Education Adviser (SEA) monitoring, challenge and support time. In the period since September 2021, the work of the SEA has scrutinised school self-evaluation and development planning. The school’s self-evaluation form (SEF) recognises areas of sustained good practice in the period since the most recent Ofsted inspection and evaluated the quality of education as ‘Good’. The Early Years Foundation Stage provision is accommodated in a spacious area that could be easily adapted to include additional, younger, pupils without adversely impacting on the quality of education and class sizes.

The school leadership have confirmed that have confirmed that to support the class teacher, a teaching assistant will enhance provision in Base 1. Careful planning by the class teacher will ensure that all children receive high quality teaching, with the suitably qualified teaching assistant deployed to focus specifically on the day to day needs of the nursery children. Whilst the Base environment already incorporates provision areas to support early learning, these will be enhanced with the addition of specific resources to meet the needs of younger children. Drawing on the support of local partners, this new provision will be carefully monitored to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Effect on other schools, academies and educational institutions within the area:

It is not anticipated that there will be any significant impact on surrounding schools and local providers of Early Years education. Schools and local early years providers were notified as part of the non-statutory pre-consultation and did not raise any concerns. They will have the opportunity to comment again during the statutory representation period.

Project Costs:

The revenue cost will be met from a combination of means based funding and parental subscription.

There are no capital implications.

There are no transport costs related to this proposal.

Implementation:

Following a formal decision to approve the lowering of age range, Goathland Primary School will work to have the new arrangements in place for 25 April 2022.

Procedure for making representations (objections and comments)

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal on 21 January 2022, anyperson may object to or make comments on the proposalby sending them to CorporateDirector- Children and Young People's Service, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE by 5pm on 18 February 2022.