Dear parents/carers, students, staff, governors and other interested parties,
This is an exciting opportunity that would enable the school to provide Early Education places to children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old prior to their entry to school. The purpose of this consultation is to provide information about our proposal and seek the views of Boney Hay Primary Academy families and the wider community. This document is part of a consultation process which opens on Thursday 26th September 2024 and closes on Thursday 24nd October 2024.
Meeting Community Needs: We are aware that there is a growing need for quality nursery places in our local area. We currently have the outstanding nursery provision which is provided by ‘Little People Nursery’ on our school site. The manager has recently announced her intention to retire at the end of July 2025, which would leave a large deficit in the provision available locally. The government is currently investing heavily in increasing childcare provision, with initiatives like expanding free childcare hours for working parents. We are proposing that we continue to provide a nursery provision on our school site. We can then position ourselves to benefit from this investment and support the growing need for local families.
Stronger Relationships with Families: Offering high-quality nursery provision creates an opportunity to build relationships with families earlier. This fosters trust and allows for a more collaborative approach to a child’s education from the very beginning.
Further Enhanced Staff Expertise: A school with a combined nursery and primary programme can foster a rich learning environment where all staff can share best practices and expertise across different age groups, leading to a more well-rounded approach to education.
Continuity of Care and Curriculum: By extending the age range, the academy will be able to further establish a consistent approach to early childhood education. This allows for a seamless curriculum flow from nursery to reception, ensuring a strong foundation for future learning for our future pupils. SUAT has considerable experience of developing this model very successfully in other locations.
Smoother Transition: A nursery within the same environment can create a familiar and comfortable space for children as they transition from nursery to reception. This familiarity can help reduce anxiety and ease the process of starting primary school. All children, even those not in our catchment, will benefit from a close relationship within a school setting.
Early identification of SEND Needs: As a school we would be aware earlier of any SEND needs and subsequently be able to plan and put appropriate support in place. Our Academy benefits from a highly experienced and knowledgeable SENDCO.
Pupil numbers: This provision would better ensure a cohort of 30 pupils into our Reception Year which would support the school financially and this in turn benefits the whole school community.
The proposed nursery provision will be based in the space currently utilised by ‘Little People Nursery’ and it is our intention to retain as many of the current nursery staff as possible within the proposed setting. There is an ample space for approximately 60 children, including a large and secure outdoor area. The current facilities and staff are already well tailored to support the requirements of a nursery, with only some refurbishment required. The nursery children will have access to the school’s resources and facilities, including the Forest School area, additional playing spaces and the school hall.
The nursery curriculum, planning, provision and pupils’ progress will be overseen and line-managed by the school’s Senior Leadership Team, which includes extensive knowledge of the EYFS.
It is proposed that the ‘Little Deers Nursery’ would open in September 2025.
Boney Hay Primary Academy welcomes the support of the local community that it serves. This is an opportunity for parents, family members, staff and the local community who have an interest in the school to respond to the proposal.
The consultation period starts on Thursday 26th September 2024 and closes on Thursday 24nd October 2024. You can share your views on this proposal by clicking on the following link:
https://forms.office.com/e/BjaB3PinLA
As Boney Hay Primary Academy is part of a Multi-Academy Trust (SUAT), approval for this proposal is required from the Department of Education.
We are committed to providing all of our pupils with the very best opportunities, skills and experiences that they need in order to fulfil their potential. We believe that creating the best possible learning environment is essential in achieving this. Every decision we make as a school is with your child’s and our communities’ best interests at heart and that is why we are exploring these initial plans with you. Thank you once again for your ongoing support and we look forward to hearing your views. Should you have any specific questions about this proposal, please do not hesitate to get in touch at office@boneyhay.staffs.sch.uk.
