A series of consultation meetings and drop in sessions will be held next month for the public to find out more about plans to amalgamate two nursery schools in the city with two primary schools.
The Council is proposing to amalgamate Grangetown Nursery School with Grangetown Primary School, and Tremorfa Nursery School with Baden Powell Primary School, with an increase in the range of high quality integrated children’s services which already exist at both nursery schools.
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. Population statistics show that birth rates in the south of the city are continuing to rise, impacting on the numbers of children requiring nursery and primary school places and these proposals will allow for flexibility to provide additional school places as the pupil population changes over time.
The Council has been investing in integrated children’s facilities across the city with the recent development of new facilities in four primary schools, in addition to the existing Ely and Caerau Children’s Centre which has been delivering high quality services to local families since 2005.
The proposals are to:
- Amalgamate Tremorfa Nursery School with Baden Powell Primary School whilst retaining service delivery at both of the existing premises. This would mean technically closing Tremorfa Nursery School and immediately reopening it as part of a spilt-site Baden Powell Primary School with an increased number of nursery places available, as well as further developing the range of integrated services available to families in Tremorfa/Splott.
- Amalgamate Grangetown Nursery School with Grangetown Primary School retaining service delivery at both of the existing premises. This would be achieved by technically closing Grangetown Nursery School and immediately reopening it as part of a spilt-site Grangetown Primary School. This would require an extension of the age range of the primary school which would operate across both sites, and support the further development of integrated service delivery for families in Grangetown.
The consultation period will run from September 19 to October 24. Parents, school staff, governors and others in the community who would be affected by the proposals will be sent copies of the consultation document and invited to respond.
Public meetings and drop-in sessions will take place as listed below for interested parties to find out more about the proposals, have the opportunity to ask questions and submit feedback.
Tremorfa Nursery School/ Baden Powell Primary School Consultation Dates:
School Type of meeting Date Time Venue
Tremorfa Nursery Drop in sessions 5/10/11 9am – 11am Tremorfa and Nursery
1pm – 3pm
Baden Powell Drop in session 7/10/11 9am – 11am Baden Powell Primary and Primary
1pm – 3pm
Tremorfa Nursery Public meeting 11/10/11 7.30pm Tremorfa Nursery
Baden Powell Public meeting 13/10/11 7pm Baden Powell
Primary Primary
Grangetown Nursery School/Grangetown Primary School Consultation Dates:
Grangetown Primary Public meeting 12/10/11 7pm Grangetown
Primary
Grangetown Nursery
Drop in sessions 13/10/11 9.15-11.15am Channel View
and Leisure Centre
12pm – 2pm
Grangetown Primary Drop in session 17/10/11 9am– 10am Grangetown
Primary
Grangetown Nursery Public meeting 17/10/11 7pm Grangetown
Nursery
Views expressed via the consultation document and at public meetings and drop-in sessions will be recorded and considered as part of the decision making process. Alternatively, views can be e-mailed to [email protected] Any comments, including those submitted by e-mail, must contain the full name and postal address of the person making the comments.
Following the consultation, the Executive will consider a summary of views received and will then decide whether to proceed with the proposals or not.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “These proposals would see the last remaining nursery schools in the city amalgamated with existing primary schools, contributing to meeting our aim of creating all through primary schools, catering for the age-range three to11.
“These proposals would create better opportunities for delivering services to children and their families through the concept of integrated children’s facilities on the existing sites of the nursery schools. The public meetings and drop in sessions are a chance for anyone interested in the plans to find out more and have their say.”
