Proposal - Lowering the Age Range for Chalkwell Hall Infant School - Consultation

The Proposal

Southend Council proposes to lower the age range of Chalkwell Hall Infant School from 4-7 years to 3-7 years. Currently, the school offers nursery provision for children aged 3 and 4 under a temporary arrangement. The proposed change would make this permanent, with the new age range in place by September 2025. The governing body of the school is in full agreement with this proposal.

The Rationale

• Expansion of Funded Childcare: As of April 2024, eligibility for funded childcare was extended to include more two-year-olds from working families meeting income thresholds. Previously, only low-income families (disadvantaged two-year-olds scheme) were eligible.
• Increased Demand: There is a growing demand for childcare, especially following the expansion to funding changes in 2024.
• Sufficiency of Childcare: The local authority aims to meet this growing demand for funded childcare while ensuring that disadvantaged two-year-olds do not miss out. The school’s addition of a nursery would help increase the supply of funded childcare in an area where there is a current shortage of available places.
• Early Years Expertise: Chalkwell Hall Infant school has an Ofsted rating of Good and has the capacity and expertise to provide quality childcare, supporting children through their Early Years educational journey towards school readiness.

The Objective

Extending the age range of the school will help meet demand in the local area. The local authority sufficiency data has evidenced there are only 4 Nursery places available in the ward for 3 and 4 year olds, in addition the nearest pre-school setting closed in July 2024. The Governing Body wishes to ensure the school supports the local area by offering high quality early education and childcare. Also, there is a lack of places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in the geographical area.

Why Chalkwell Hall Infant School?

• Enabling children to start in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at ages three and four will:
  • Remove a transition point for most children.
  • Narrow the gap for more disadvantaged children.
  • Ensure continuity and progression as children move through their learning journey.
• Benefits for children:
  • Quality first teaching from qualified staff.
  • Early identification of additional needs and timely interventions.
  • Access to a large, well-resourced, secure outdoor provision.
  • High-quality indoor resources.
• Nursery facilities and parental involvement:
  • A separate route for parents into the nursery, apart from the main school.
  • A private area for parents to discuss their child's learning and development with nursery staff.
• Offering places from age three will:
  • Provide greater consistency and continuity for children before they start school.
  • Enable staff to make a more significant impact before children reach reception class.

The Consultation

The local authority is carrying out a consultation process from 4 November 2024 to 2 December 2024, about this proposal to lower the age range at Chalkwell Hall Infant School from 4-7 to 3-7 years of age.

If you have any questions that have not been covered in the consultation document or that are specific to your circumstances and you would like to discuss, please email admissionsconsultation@southend.gov.uk

Responses must be received by 5pm on Monday 2 December 2024