Purpose

To ask the Cabinet Member to
approve the statutory proposal published by Wiltshire Council on 27
April 2023. The notice proposed to change
the age range of St Mary’s C of E Primary School to enable
them to provide preschool provision from 1 September 2023. The
school will then admit children from the age of 2
years.  Pupils will be accommodated in
an existing building on the school site, formerly the Peardrops
Preschool and a classroom within the school that can accommodate
the preschool children.

Content

I confirm the decision as set
out as option 3 in the report.
 
This decision was made on 26
June 2023 and will come into effect on 4 July 2023.
 

Reasons for the decision

The Council has a statutory duty
to ensure sufficient places across Wiltshire and this proposal will
ensure that the community in the area of St Mary’s C of E
Primary School have a sufficient supply of pre-school places in
their local community.

Alternative options considered

Do
Nothing

The Council does not have the option to do nothing
as it has a statutory duty to provide sufficient early years
childcare places across the county.

Identify an alternative private provider

No alternative Provider has been identified to
provide continuity of places.

St
Mary’s C of E Primary School provide continuity of the
current Peardrops Preschool utilising the existing building due to
be vacated by Peardrops Preschool in August 2023 and accommodate
the Playclose Preschool currently within the village using an
existing classroom within the school.

This is the preferred option as it will
provide continuity of existing early years capacity in the area and
should support the school to improve outcomes for preschool
children who may attend the school at the appropriate
time.
St Mary’s C of E Primary School will
provide 40 places for 2 - 4 year olds in the local area. The
current early years provision is closing July 2023 and the Local
Authority has identified a need for continued preschool places in
the area to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient childcare
within Purton.
The
places will be provided by using the existing building currently
occupied by Peardrops Preschool in the school grounds and the use
of an additional classroom within the school.