Stoke Canon Church of England Primary Consultation on Change of Age Range

Update April 2023

Following consultation, the Governing Body of Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School, met on the 31 March 2023 and approved the proposal to lower the age range from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age. This will take effect from 17 April 2023.

Archived Information

The governing body of Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School is proposing to increase the age range of the school from 4-11 years to 2-11 years of age with effect from 17th April 2023.

Background:

The school has early years places that are currently run as a Governor run Preschool. The preschool is situated within the existing school buildings. It is open to 2 – 4 year-olds during term times from Monday to Thursday.  The School is part of the Three Rivers Federation.

This proposal is that preschool should become part of the school, forming a Foundation Unit with our reception children, rather than operating as an extended service. This will allow for greater flexibility with staffing and resourcing since all  the  finances for the school and  preschool will be managed together rather than separately as we are required to do now. This will ensure stability of the early years provision in the long term. There will also be no change in relation to the number of early years places offered but we will be able to extend our working hours for 2 to 4 year olds by opening on a Friday (from September 2023) in addition to our current provision on Monday to Thursday.

The school’s planned admission number into the reception class will still be 15. Parents and children should experience very little change to the service they receive; there will be no break in service for children that are attending preschool because of this change. If the proposal is approved by the governing body, following this consultation, the preschool will become a Foundation Unit, joining with the reception children, and children in the preschool will be registered on the school’s roll. Parents will still need to make a separate application to Devon County Council for a place in reception. As a Foundation Unit there must be a qualified teacher and a level 3 qualified early years worker leading the learning for three-and four-year-olds. Each day, the unit will be staffed by a Qualified Teacher and up to 2 other members of staff plus students and volunteers.

The main benefits of this proposal:

• A single budget providing flexibility and improved sustainability into the future.
• One administrative and accounting system which will relieve pressure on school staff.
• Free school meals for eligible preschool children.
• Guarantee of teacher led provision supported by a highly qualified staff team.
• No capital funding will be required by the school to implement this proposal. It will not affect the capacity of the school and does not put pressure on existing classroom spaces.

The proposed indicative timetable is as follows:

• 4-week Consultation Period: 6th March 2023 – 30th March 2023
• Governing Body meeting: The Governing Body will meet to consider the consultation responses and whether to implement this proposal on Friday 31st March, 2023. We will respond to and answer any parent questions and post standard answers to any questions raised on our school website. If it is agreed that the proposal will be implemented, then the proposed change would take effect as of Monday 17th April 2023.

Please respond to the consultation by 30th March 2023:

In writing:
Mrs L Herbert
Executive Headteacher (on behalf of the Chair of Governors)
Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School
Stoke Canon
Exeter
EX5 4AS

Or by emailing: admin@stokecanon.devon.sch.uk