Topsham Primary School: Proposal to change the age range

Update 18 July 2024: Following consultation and completion of the statutory process, the proposal to change the age range of Topsham School from 3‑11 to 4‑11 years of age with effect from September 2024 has been approved by Devon County Council.

Archived information:-

Proposal and Evidence of demand

The Topsham School currently has a Nursery Class, Little Acorns, for children aged 3 and 4 years of age, run as a Foundation Stage Unit (Nursery and Reception Class integrated). Devon County Council is consulting on the Nursery Class provision changing to a Governor run Pre-School for 3 and 4 year olds. Transition to a Governor run Pre-School would be smooth and would ensure that the provision for 3 and 4 year olds is monitored and supported by school staff. Its current location, timetable and daily systems for the children would not be affected by the change proposed. Parents and Carers will continue to still need to make a separate application to Devon County Council for a place in the Reception Class.

Objectives

The Governing Body of Topsham School sees the need to change the status of the Nursery provision to a Governor run pre-school to allow for savings to be made through the restructuring of staff. The financial savings which are necessary will be made through employing Early Years practitioners to run the pre-school provision on a daily basis, rather than employing a Qualified Teacher to lead the Nursery provision.  Being Governor run the provision will still be supported by the school. The teachers within the school who currently support the Nursery will continue their support of the pre-school provision. The school and the federation will monitor standards and ensure that the quality of provision provided by the pre-school maintains that previously provided through the Nursery.

Education standards

The school is an Ofsted ‘Good’ school, November 2022.
Inspection reports are available via: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

The effect on other Schools, Academies, and educational institutions in the area

Other schools, academies and local early years providers have been consulted with and no responses have been received from them. The school currently has a Nursery class and converting to a Governor-run Pre-School is unlikely to have a negative impact on other early years providers or schools in the local area.

Project Costs

No capital funding is required.  Planning consent is not required. It is envisaged that this proposal will be cost neutral as the Early Years funding will be received where children are eligible and by parental subscription where they are not.

Implementation and any proposed stages for implementation

The proposal, if approved, will be implemented with effect from September 2024.

Effect on existing pupils

The proposal will not affect the capacity of the school, nor the Published Admission Number for school aged children and will not put pressure on existing classroom space.

Pre-publication consultation

A pre-publication consultation took place between 23 April to 21 May 2024.
One response has been received. The respondent considers the proposal would have a detrimental impact to already limited options in the area and reduce the quality of transitional settings (between nursery and school) available to many local children and parents.

Response to formal representation period

You can object to or comment on the proposals by:

Emailing: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk

Writing to: Strategic Planning Children’s Services, Room 120, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD.

by the closing date 2 July 2024.

All responses will be considered by Devon County Council and will be shared with the school’s leadership team and governors, unless you request otherwise. Please see Devon County Council’s Privacy Notice:https://www.devon.gov.uk/privacy/privacy-notices/privacy-notice-for-representations-to-school-organisation-statutory-consultations/ Please note that all responses will be properly considered by Devon County Council and the Governing Body, but we will not send individual responses to any specific points raised

The County Council will keep you informed throughout the process on this website.