Agenda item - Consultation on Reducing Maintained School Nursery Classes

Report of the Executive Director Families, Children & Learning (copy attached).

RESOLVED:

(1)  That in accordance with DfE statutory guidance Making ‘prescribed alterations’ to maintained schools (April 2016) the process is started for closure of the nursery classes at Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools immediately following this committee meeting. The local authority has to be the proposer regarding this alteration and the statutory process must be followed.

(2)  That, subject to findings from the initial consultation stage, a decision on whether or not to proceed to statutory notices with full proposals for Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools is delegated to the Executive Director - Families Children & Learning following discussions with the Chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee.

(3)  That at the end of the statutory notice period, a decision on whether or not to proceed with closure of the nursery classes at Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools is taken at the June Children, Young People and Skills Committee.

(4)  That the committee notes that the governing body of St Mark’s Voluntary Aided primary school intends to start the non-statutory process for closure of its nursery class and that the school will be supported by the local authority in doing so.

76.1    The solicitor to the Committee said that the wording in recommendation 2.2 in the report was incorrect and should be amended to read:

‘That, subject to findings from the initial consultation stage, a decision on whether or not to proceed to statutory notices with full proposals for Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools is delegated to the Executive Director Families Children & Learning, following consultation with the Chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee’.

76.2    The Committee noted the amendment.

76.3    RESOLVED: The Committee agreed -

(1)  That in accordance with DfE statutory guidance Making ‘prescribed alterations’ to maintained schools (April 2016) the process is started for closure of the nursery classes at Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools immediately following this committee meeting. The local authority has to be the proposer regarding this alteration and the statutory process must be followed.

(2)  That, subject to findings from the initial consultation stage, a decision on whether or not to proceed to statutory notices with full proposals for Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools is delegated to the Executive Director Families Children & Learning, following consultation with the Chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee.

(3)  That at the end of the statutory notice period, a decision on whether or not to proceed with closure of the nursery classes at Queen’s Park and Middle Street primary schools is taken at the June Children, Young People and Skills Committee.

(4)  That the committee notes that the governing body of St Mark’s Voluntary Aided primary school intends to start the non-statutory process for closure of its nursery class and that the school will be supported by the local authority in doing so.