Lady Seaward’s Church of England Primary School: proposal to change the age range

Update May 2024: the Department for Education’s Regions Group has considered this proposal and has approved the proposal to lower the age range of Lady Seawards C of E Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age.

Proposal
It is proposed to lower the age range of Lady Seaward’s CE Primary School from 4 – 11 years to 2 – 11 years of age with effect from 1st January 2024.

Background
Little Dragon’s Pre-School is an independently run, committee led Pre-School on the school site with a capacity to take 20 children. The Pre-School committee feel that they cannot sustain the increase in staff costs and have approached the school about merging the settings in order to best meet the needs of the children and the community.  The School and the Trust feel it is very important to the community to continue with this provision. First Federation Trust has experience of Nursery classes within the school structure and there is plenty of support available to the school. There will be no change in relation to the age range offered, nor reduction in places offered. If the proposal is approved, the main difference is that the pre-school will become a Nursery Class or part of a Foundation Stage Unit within the school. The children currently in the pre-school will be registered on the school roll. Parents will still need to make a separate application to Devon County Council for a place in the reception class.

Capital
The assets of the Pre-School will transfer to the School and continuing staff will TUPE across. The proposal will not affect the capacity of the School, nor the Planned Admission Number and will not put pressure on existing classroom space.

The Process
All responses to this consultation will be considered by the School, The First Federation Trust and shared with decision makers at Little Dragon’s Pre-School committee as well as the Regional Director’s Office at the Department for Education. It is the Advisory Board at the Regional Director’s office (part of the Department for Education) that make the final decision on the proposal based on the application and responses received to the consultation.

The proposed timetable is as follows:
Consultation: Wednesday 5th July 2023 – Friday 29th September 2023
Proposed implementation: 1st January 2024

Responding to the consultation
You can respond to the consultation by writing to: Mrs Michala Firth, Head of School, Lady Seaward’s CE Primary School, Clyst St George, Exeter EX3 0RE or by emailing: admin@clyst-st-george.devon.sch.uk by the closing date of Friday 29th September.