Decision details

To ask the Cabinet Member to approve the statutory proposal published by Wiltshire Council on 23 April 2020. The notice proposed to change the age range of Princecroft Primary School to provide pre-school provision from 1 January 2021. The school will then admit children from the age of 3 years.  Pupils will be accommodated in existing buildings on the site which are being converted into pre-school accommodation.

I approve the decision set out in the attached report.

This decision was published on 18 June 2020 and will come into effect on 26 June 2020.

The Council has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient places across Wiltshire and this proposal will ensure that the community of Princecroft Primary School have a sufficient supply of pre-school places in their local community.

Creating a nursery at Princecroft Primary School will provide 30 places for 3 - 4 year olds in the local area. The local population is increasing and the Local Authority has identified a need for additional pre-school places in the area.

Wiltshire Council in partnership with Princecroft Primary School applied for School Nurseries Capital Funding (SNCF) in October 2018 to the DfE to address a predicted shortfall of nursery places in the school’s catchment area.  The outcome of the SNCF application was announced in January 2020 with the bid of £470,000 successfully awarded.

This funding is to be used to renovate the on-site former Children’s Centre to create a 30 place nursery for 3-4 year olds. The Council does have the option to do nothing but that would not create the places needed and the funding would need to be returned to the DFE.

Wiltshire Council and Princecroft Primary School have widely consulted on the proposal to lower the age range of the school to provide pre-school provision. Consultation with a range of stakeholders took place between 1 March 2020 and 27 March 2020 and preceded publication of the statutory proposals. A public meeting was also held on 12 March 2020. Interested parties were asked to complete a consultation form. There were 60 responses received, all bar one supported the proposal. 

The statutory proposal period ended on 23 May 2020. There were no objections or comments received.