Closing date: 19 May 2021
Proposal to make a prescribed alteration to Weaverham Forest Primary School, Forest Street, Weaverham, CW8 3EY.
School and Local Authority Details
The proposal to make a prescribed alteration to Weaverham Forest Primary School, Forest Street, Weaverham, CW8 3EY from 01 September 2021 is being published by Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE. Contact Name and Address: Carolyn Davis, Senior Manager, Education Infrastructure, (Nicholas House), 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE.
The proposal
It is proposed to permanently expand the age range of Weaverham Forest Primary School from 4-11 years of age to 2-11 years of age, to take effect from 1 September 2021. The school has made such additional provision on a temporary basis since November 2019.
Consultation
The Council have considered responses to a period of informal consultation conducted between 08 February and 14 March 2021 and have now determined to publish a public notice of their intention to implement the proposal. Publication of the notice initiates a period of four weeks in which any person or organisation may submit comments to the Council on the proposal and these must be taken into account by the decision-maker who will be the Cabinet Member for Children and Families. The decision must be made in accordance with statutory guidance.
Description of alteration and evidence of demand
It is proposed that the school permanently increase its age range by making maintained nursery provision for two, three and four year-olds. The Governing body of the school believe this increase in the age range of the school:
- provides early engagement between the school and those families who intend that their children should receive their primary education at the school.
- enables children to pass through the formative stages of education without need for transition between settings and organisational cultures.
The school reports that it currently has 37 pupils on its nursery roll.
The effect on other pre-school provision within the area
It is recognised that the proposal to make this provision permanent may lead to those providers whose sustainability has been compromised by the temporary establishment of this provision continuing to be challenged by a potential over-supply of local provision. It is recognised that the temporary establishment of provision followed the forced departure of a previous provider from the Weaverham Primary School site, this provider is now established at a neighbouring primary school. Balanced against this is clear evidence that the provision temporarily established has been the provision of choice for a significant proportion of local parents. A large number of these parents have stated their support for it being made permanent during the first phase of consultation.
Project costs and indication of how these will be met, including how long term value for money will be achieved
Operational costs will be met from the school’s revenue budget, supported through the Council’s mechanisms for funding early years education.
Implementation and any proposed stages for implementation
If approved by the decision-maker (and subject to there being no appeal by Chester or Shrewsbury Dioceses to the Schools Adjudicator) the Governing Body wish to implement the proposal from 1 September 2021.
The procedure for responses
A public notice will be published on the Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council website on Thursday 22 April 2021.
A public notice announcing the start of a period of public representations is to be published in the Mid Cheshire Guardian on Thursday 22 April 2021.
Within four weeks from the date of publication, any person may send in a response supporting, objecting or commenting on the proposal;
- By sending a response to the Senior Manager, Education Infrastructure, (Nicholas House), Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE
- By email to schoolplanningandpolicy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
All responses received will be shared with the decision-maker, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families. Full details of how we manage the information provided by respondents can be found at: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/system-pages/privacy-notices/consultations-privacy-notice.aspx
Please note
We welcome views from all sections of the community and would encourage everyone to take part in this consultation. Note that the Council has a responsibility to make sure that its services are available to all, regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief or sexual identity. Comments that are offensive to particular groups or considered inappropriate under the Equality Act 2010 will not be considered or published as part of this consultation.
