Introduction

Croxby Primary School, part of The Consortium Academy Trust (‘the Trust’), and an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ school in January 2022, is seeking to open a 26-place nursery provision and this consultation document sets out the proposal to implement it. In order to establish a nursery, it is necessary for the Trust to change the age range for which the school can cater for, from 4 - 11 to 3 - 11 years old. This would enable the school to provide Early Education and Childcare places to children aged 3 and 4 years.

The purpose of this consultation document

The purpose of this document is to provide information relating to the proposal to establish the nursery and to seek views of parents and the wider community to enable them to make an informed decision.

Objectives of the Proposal

Maintained nursery settings are based on school sites. They offer teacher-supported learning through play - based around the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for 3-4-year-olds prior to their entry into school. This proposal presents an exciting opportunity to offer high-quality, free education to 3-4-year-olds on-site with the added benefit of enabling a seamless transition into full time education at Croxby Primary School. The investment will help extend and improve the early years facilities, making Croxby Primary School increasingly more attractive to local families. Other objectives of the proposal are as follows:

• To provide children with the best possible start in their education, creating strong links with the school’s foundation stage.
• To ensure a higher base-line of progression into the reception class and main school.
• To improve social and learning outcomes to benefit the children throughout their schooling and into adulthood.
• To provide flexible pre-school provision to local parents, offering pre-school provision throughout the academic year.

If approved, the nursery will operate from the existing accommodation on the school site, with the nursery sharing the entrance to the current reception class, making the transition into school even more seamless.

We welcome your support

This is an opportunity for parents, carers, staff, the local community and other people who have an interest in the school to respond to the outlined options and ask questions on the proposal to establish the nursery. The consultation period starts on 4^th April 2022 and will end 2^nd May 2022. You can state whether you support the proposal or not by completing the consultation questionnaire online by clicking on the link below:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Muld21g0TUSFRSKJe3Yn24d3yfQbFSBMm1w8dKNt4MpUMUxINVlBRFEwVDVYSDU2NlpQVU9EWVVDRS4u

If you have any other questions regarding this proposal, please contact the Headteacher Kerry Mason on 01482 846171 or email office@croxbyprimary.co.uk

All views and responses will be considered after the consultation ends and the Trust will decide on the next steps. This consultation document is being sent electronically to all parents/carers, governors, teachers and staff of Croxby Primary School. Electronic copies are also being sent to the Local Authority, all private early years providers in the local community and will be available to view on our website.

What happens next?

The final decision as to whether this proposal is approved for implementation will be made by the Regional Schools Commissioner on behalf of the Department for Education. The process for making significant changes to academies can be viewed in more detail here: Academies: making significant changes or closure by agreement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)