Neston Primary School to permanently increase the age range
This consultation is now closed.
Cheshire West and Chester Council and Neston Primary School is proposing to permanently lower the school’s age range. Neston Primary School, Burton Road, Little Neston, Neston, CH64 9RE, in order to fulfil the Council's duty to provide enough childcare places in the local area.
The Proposal
It is proposed to permanently expand the age range of Neston Primary School, Burton Road, Little Neston, Neston, CH64 9RE, from 4-11 years of age to 3-11 years of age, to take effect from 01 September 2024. The school has made such additional provision on a temporary basis since September 2022.
Consultation
The Governing Body of Neston Primary School previously requested the Local Authority to note a temporary increase of age range due to the school taking over the former nursery provision from January 2023. The nursery was located on the Schools grounds and was in operation for over 20 years. Their provision ceased operations when the provider, who was a Governor at the school, retired. The Early Years team was keen for the nursery to keep operating and a mutual agreement formed for the School to operate the nursery on a temporary basis.
This temporary provision has proved successful, and the School’s Governing Body now wish to extend the age range of the School to 3-11 in order that the provision for three-year olds can be permanently established. The Local Authority is consequently requested to initiate the prescribed alterations statutory process.
In order to continue to provide Early Years education for our local community, and the school having successfully implemented this measure on a temporary basis, the Council and the school now propose to hold an informal stage of consultation, which will run from 29 February 2024 – 28 March 2024.
Any person or organisation may submit comments to the Council on the proposal and these must be taken into account by the the Council’s Director of Children and Families, on whether to proceed with the proposal. If agreed by the Director, a public ‘Notice’ will be published in a local newspaper, and published on the Council’s website. This begins a four-week period of ‘Representations’ when anyone may make a comment or an objection to the proposal. Following a four-week period of representations and having considered all responses, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families will then take a final decision as to whether to proceed with the proposal.
It is proposed that the school permanently increase its age range by making maintained nursery provision for three - four year-olds. The Council and the Governing body of the school believe this increase in the age range of the school is required:
- To ensure all local three - four year old children with an entitlement to early years education are able to access that entitlement in a local setting of their preference.
- To provide the opportunity for parents to have continuity in children’s progression from early years education to statutory age schooling.
The Council's Early Years Commissioner has advised these places will be necessary to enable the Council to continue to discharge its duty to ensure a sufficiency of places for three - four year-olds in the area local to the school.
Ofsted has found the school's provision to be 'Good'.
The proposed provision will allow for the attendance of a maximum of 30 three - four year olds at any time to be accommodated. This is a continuation of the same number of places offered by the previous provider.
The procedure for responses: support; objections and comments
Paper copies of the proposal may be requested directly from the school.
Alternatively digital copies may be requested by emailing: schoolorganisationandconsultations@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Share your views
Any person may provide their views on the proposal, either by:
- Completing the online survey
- Sending a response by postal letter to School Organisation, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA
- Email to schoolorganisationandconsultations@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
All responses received will be shared with the Council’s Director of Children and Families.
The final date to provide feedback on the proposal is 28 March 2024.
Privacy Notice
If you would like to know more about how we use and store the information you give us, you can visit our privacy notice page.
Accessibility
Council information is also available in audio, braille, large print or other formats. If you would like a copy in a different format, in another language or require a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, please contact us:
- Email: equalities@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- Telephone: 0300 123 8 123
- Textphone: 18001 01606 867670