Proposed Closure of South Street Nursery School and Change of Age Range at Heybrook Primary School

Overview

Rochdale Borough Council intends to ensure the continuation of nursery provision at South Street through the legal mechanism of closing South Street Nursery School and extending the age range of Heybrook Community Primary School.

Part 1: Closure of South Street Nursery School

Notice is given in accordance with section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU intends to discontinue South Street Nursery School, South Street, Rochdale, OL16 2EP on 31st August 2016. Alternative provision will continue on the same site as part of Heybrook Community Primary School, where it is intended to extend the age range to include 2-year-olds (see below). As provision will continue on the same site, no transport arrangements for displaced pupils are required.

Part 2: Change of age range at Heybrook Community Primary School to add a nursery unit

Notice is given in accordance with section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU intends to make a prescribed alteration to Heybrook Community Primary School from 1st September 2016.

It is proposed to extend the age range of Heybrook Community Primary School to 2 - 11, to make provision for children displaced if South Street Nursery School closes (see above). The proposed alteration will make provision for 156 part-time equivalent nursery places (78 full-time equivalent places).  This will be on an additional site at South Street, Rochdale. The current capacity of the school is 630 (Reception to Y6) and the proposed capacity will be 630.The current admission number (into Reception) for the school is 90 and the proposed admission number will be 90.

Rochdale Borough Council will implement the proposals as linked proposals.

This Notice is an extract from the complete proposal. Copies of the complete proposals can be obtained from robert.aspinall@rochdale.gov.uk, or by writing to Robert Aspinall, School Organisation and Development Team, Early Help and Schools, Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU. The proposals can also be accessed using the links below.

Within four weeks from the date of publication of these proposals, any person may make representations by writing to Robert Aspinall, School Organisation and Development Team, Early Help and Schools, Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU. You may also complete the on-line response form using the link below.

The closing date for representations is midnight on 23rd February 2016.

What happens next

At its meeting held on 14^th March 2016, the Council’s Cabinet, as the Decision Maker, considered the statutory proposals published by Rochdale Borough Council to discontinue (close) South Street Nursery School with effect from 31st August 2016; and also to ensure the continuation of nursery provision on the South Street site by bringing that site under the management of Heybrook CP School and extending the age range of Heybrook CP from 4-11 to 2-11 years with effect from 1^st September 2016. I am writing to inform you that, having considered a full report on the proposals and taking account of the considerations required by statutory guidance, the Cabinet has given approval without modification to the proposals.

The reasons for the decision are that:

• South Street Nursery School is not financially viable for the long term even taking into account the  most recent proposals from the Governing Body and is not able to set a balanced budget within year without the use of reserves; and
• The continuation of the nursery provision on the South Street site under Heybrook CP School will ensure that nursery provision on the site will be financially viable. There will be  sufficient suitable nursery places in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility in the Central Rochdale ward to meet the overall demand.

The closure of South Street Nursery School will take effect from 31^st August 2016 and the nursery provision will continue on the site under the management of Heybrook CP School with effect from 1^st September 2016. The Local Authority will implement the proposals.