Following a consultation on a proposal to establish nursery provision at three schools across the city, a report will be considered by Cardiff Council’s Executive this week.
At its meeting on Thursday December 8, the Executive will receive a report which presents an evaluation of responses to the public consultation held during September and October and will consider whether to proceed with a number of recommendations.
The recommendations are to approve the publication of statutory notices to:
- establish nursery provision at Millbank Primary School extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11
- establish nursery provision at Ysgol Pen Y Groes extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11
- establish nursery provision at Ysgol Pen y Pîl extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11
A full public consultation, including public meetings, drop-in sessions and an exhibition, was held in September and October on the proposals as the Council has been reviewing the role of nursery schools as part of its vision of viable and successful schools and wherever possible, is seeking to create all-through primary schools catering for children aged three to 11. In these instances this can be achieved by opening nursery units attached to existing primary schools.
Views expressed in response to the consultation document and at public meetings and drop-in sessions were recorded and will be considered as part of the decision making process. The Executive will consider a summary of views received and will then decide whether to proceed with the proposals
The proposal to create nursery provision at Millbank Primary forms part of wider schools organisation proposals to reorganise primary provision in Caerau and will create additional Early Years education places in the area, bringing Millbank in line with other all-through primary phase arrangements and reducing existing pressure on oversubscribed maintained nursery settings in the area.
The proposal would be implemented from September 2014 with 24 full time equivalent (48 part time), nursery places operating for two sessions a day.
Ysgol Pen Y Groes in Pentwyn was permanently established in 2009 and since then there has been the commitment to consult on the establishment of a Welsh-medium nursery unit at the school. Demand for provision continues to grow and there is need for a long term solution to accommodate the growth.
The proposal is to establish a nursery unit as part of the primary school from April 2013 at the earliest with 24 full time equivalent (48 part time places), operating for two sessions a day.
Ysgol Pen y Pîl was established as a starter class in 2007 and permanently established in the premises of the former Trowbridge Infant School in January 2011. The establishment of a nursery at the school will help meet local demand for high quality, Welsh-medium nursery education.
The proposal is to establish 24 full time equivalent (48 part time nursery places), operating for two sessions a day from September 2012.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “These proposals will allow the Council to continue creating all-through primary schools across the city to provide continuity in primary phase education.
“The proposals have been developed to meet demand for both English-medium and Welsh-medium places with high quality nursery education.”
