RCT Nursery Provision Update

As you may have heard through the media, RCT have voted through the proposals to make cuts to current nursery provision. However, schools have not yet been given any advice or support on how to move forward in planning for September. To sum up, the decision from RCT is as follows:

• Nursery provision from the age of 3 will continue but be reduced to half time from September 2014 (not April as originally proposed).
• Children who are currently full time in our school and still 3 years of age in September will become half time.
• Children will be eligible for full time provision the term after their 4th birthday. For example, if a child turns 4 in September (during the autumn term), they will be eligible for a full time place from January (the start of the spring term). Similarly, if a child turns 4 in February (during the spring term), they will be eligible for a full time place from the beginning of the summer term. Any child who turns 4 during the summer term will not commence full time education until they join the Reception class in September. 

Some of the news reports indicate that schools can continue to provide full time nursery provision if they choose to fund through their school budget. This is not a viable option for the majority of schools as a school's budget is based on the number of pupils on roll. Reducing nursery provision to half time will result in half the funding for nursery being allocated to our school. However, alternative funding options will be investigated by the school once we have further information and guidance from the council.

Headteachers have been requested to attend a number of meetings in the coming weeks and we will provide updates as and when more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience during what we know is a frustrating time.