A G E N D a Please Address Any General Enquiries on This Agenda to Julie Dean, County Hall, Oxford OX1 1ND (Tel: Oxford 815322)

Committee Education and Social Services Day MONDAY Sub-Committee EARLY YEARS Date 15 JUNE 1998 Place of Meeting County Hall, Oxford Time 10.00 am A G E N D A Please address any general enquiries on this agenda to Julie Dean, County Hall, Oxford OX1 1ND (Tel: Oxford 815322). Press enquiries should be directed to the Media Manager on Oxford 815266.

Members are reminded of the obligation to declare any interest relevant to business to be conducted at this meeting, and of the convention as to withdrawal from the meeting for the relevant item unless the interest is not one which debars the member from speaking thereon (see page G2 of the Council's Manual

1. Election to Chair (Labour Group)

2. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

3. Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 1998 (EY3).

4. Matters arising from the Minutes

5. Petitions and Public Address

OPERATIONAL ITEMS

6. EARLY YEARS UNITS (EYUs)

Report by Chief Education Officer (EY6).

The report presents initial evaluations of the first four Early Years Units to open in the County: those at Carswell CP School, Abingdon; St John's RC School, Banbury; St Mary's RC School, Bicester and William Fletcher CP School, Yarnton.

The report also presents a proposal from the Head and Governors of Bishop Loveday CE School, Bodicote to open an Early Years Unit in September 1998.

The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) consider and receive the evaluation reports on Oxfordshire's first four Early Years Units; and

(b) approve the proposal by Bishop Loveday CE School, Bodicote to open an Early Years Unit in September 1998, to be fully funded from national early years grant to admit four-year-olds who are younger than rising five.

7. NURSERY ADMISSIONS POLICY

Report by Chief Education Officer (EY7).

Since 1997 there has been a single countywide admissions policy for nursery schools and classes. The first year's operation of the new policy has recently been reviewed and the outcome including a revised Draft Policy for Admission to Nursery Schools and Classes is presented in this report. The main issues that have arisen in implementing the new policy so far are as follows:

- the operation of the planned place number mechanism for three-year-olds;

- the application of the policy to geographically distinct communities within a nursery's designated area; and

Page 1 - the effect of the older brother or sister and the distance criteria.

However, the change to a countywide admissions policy has been accomplished fairly smoothly in the first year notwithstanding the main issues outlined above and against a background of major changes in national early years policy and funding.

The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) approve the revised nursery admissions policy for 1998/99 as set out in the annex to the report EY7;

(b) note that the policy will be reviewed again in Spring 1999.

8. EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Chief Education Officer reports as follows:-

On 5 February 1998 the Sub-Committee approved the County's Early Years Development Plan for submission to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE).

On 26 March 1998, the Under Secretary of State, Estelle Morris MP, announced that she was not yet in a position to approve the County's Plan. This was due to concern about the LEA's approach towards expansion of its own early years provision, and also to concerns about the internal working of the Early Years Development Partnership. The LEA was asked to work with its early years partners to make certain changes to the Plan and to submit a revised version by 15 June 1998 (Minute 18/98 refers).

The main change requested by the Secretary of State was the addition to the Plan of an annex setting out an agreed procedure for consultation and decision making with regard to all proposals to establish new Early Years Units (EYUs) in primary schools. This annex, the text of which was agreed by the Early Years Partnership on 1 June, now appears as Annex 1 to the revised Plan. If approved, this annex will be circulated widely to all providers and it will be incorporated within a new EYU Scheme document.

In addition, the Plan has been amended to incorporate a number of other minor changes requested by the DfEE, and also to take account of significant developments that have taken place since the previous version was written. The revised version has already been sent to the DfEE provisionally, pending final approval by the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) approve the revised version of the Plan and, in particular, the agreed procedures as set out in Annex 1; and

(b) ask the officers to notify the Department for Education and Employment of the Sub-Committee's decision.

(The revised Development Plan has been circulated to members of the Sub-Committee, Group Leaders and relevant Chief Officers only. It can be seen in the Members' Resource Centre and is available for public inspection).

9. SPOTLIGHT ON EARLY YEARS: SECTION 19 : REVIEW OF EARLY YEARS 1998

Report by Director of Social Services, Chief Education Officer and Assistant Chief Executive (PPRU) (EY9).

Section 19 of the Children Act 1989 requires local authorities and local education authorities jointly to review all day care and supervised activities for children under 8 years, taking account in doing so, of nursery and primary education facilities. This review must be undertaken every three years.

Page 2 Such reviews have been undertaken twice in Oxfordshire and have been published as 'Spotlight on Early Years' in 1993 and 1996. A further review is now necessary. This report outlines proposals for how it should be produced, in the light of the markedly changed environment of early years, not least with the requirement to have in place, as Oxfordshire has, Early Years Development Plans.

The requirement to produce such plans, as well as the Children's Services Plan, which of necessity also includes a chapter on early years suggests that this year a more modest exercise than hitherto is appropriate. How this is to be achieved is briefly outlined. It is likely, however, that with the Department for Education and Employment assuming the functions in relation to early years previously undertaken by the Department of Health, for whom Section 19 Reviews had to be produced, that this will be the last exercise of this nature to be carried out.

The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) approve the process as described in the report EY9 for the production of the third 'Spotlight on Early Years'; and

(b) instruct officers to produce a first draft for consideration at the October 1998 meeting of the Sub-Committee.

10. THE REGULATION OF EARLY EDUCATION AND DAYCARE (GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION PAPER)

Report by Director of Social Services and Chief Education Officer (EY10).

The Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Health have jointly issued a consultation document on the Regulation of Early Education and Day Care. It addresses options that flow from what it describes as a re-examination of "the scope of regulation and inspection" and the intention is to "create a new, more uniform regulatory regime which better reflects the needs of an integrated approach to care and education, and can respond to the inevitable challenges demanded by the growth in early years places".

Responses are required by the end of July. To date a brief report focusing on children at regulatory aspects of the consultation exercise has been submitted to the 2 June 1998 Social Services Committee. The document was discussed at the Early Years Development Partnership on 1 June 1998 (officers will be able to provide oral feedback) and at the Social Services Inspection Advisory Panel at their meeting on 27 April 1998.

The Social Services Committee resolved to authorise the Chief Inspector and the Director of Social Services to prepare a county response to the consultation document, following consultation with the Group Spokespersons of Social Services Committee, with this Sub-Committee, with the Social Services Inspection Advisory Panel and other appropriate consultees. They also requested that a copy of the final response be sent to all members of the relevant Committees.

This report briefly explains the context and scope of this review and includes at Annex 2, the 39 questions upon which the Government is seeking responses. It then suggests a process for responding to the consultation.

The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) address and comment upon key questions they identify within the consultation document; and

(b) authorise the Director of Social Services and the Chief Education Officer, following consultation with the Sub-Committee's Group Spokespersons, to prepare the response of this Sub-Committee to the proposals, taking account of the consultations outlined, for incorporation into the final response of the County Council.

11. THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAYCARE FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS IN EDUCATIONAL

Page 3 SETTINGS

Report by Assistant Chief Executive (PPRU), Director of Social Services and Chief Education Officer (EY11).

On 5 February 1998 this Sub-Committee received a `Position Statement' report in relation to a bid that was being submitted to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) to develop daycare for three and four year olds in educational settings. The bid was successful, although at a reduced level to that applied for, and a grant of £56,000 has been allocated to Oxfordshire (a copy of the bid has been placed in the Members' Resource Centre). This report outlines the proposals for implementing the grant (grant funds must be spent by 31 March 1999).

The Sub Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the contents of the report, in particular the issues outlined in paragraph 8;

(b) ask the officers to submit regular reports on the implementation of the DFEE grant and on the issues raised by developing wrap-around schemes in LEA nursery schools and classes and on LEA school sites; and

(c) authorise the Chief Education Officer and the Director of Social Services to submit a joint response to the Green Paper 'Meeting the Childcare Challenge' following consultation with the Sub-Committee's Group Spokespersons.

JOHN HARWOOD Chief Executive

8 June 1998

NOTE FOR SPOKESPERSONS/GROUP LEADERS AND RELEVANT OFFICERS ONLY

The pre-meeting briefing will be held at County Hall on Friday 12 June 1998 at 2.00 pm.

Page 4 Education and Social Services Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 30 MARCH 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY3

MINUTES of the meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 11.55 am

Present:

Voting Members:

Councillors Liz Clements, Mrs Ann Davis, M. Evans, Mrs Diana Ludlow, MacKenzie, Richard Marchant, Julie Mayhew-Archer, Keith Mitchell and Tom Richardson (in place of Councillor Fiona Campbell).

Non-Voting Members:

Ms P. May and Ms E. Place.

Ex Officio:

Councillors Brian Hodgson and Janet Morgan (in place of Councillor Dermot Roaf).

Officers:

Whole of meeting: G. Malcolm, V. Johnson and J.A. Dean (Chief Executive's Office); R. Harmes (Education Department); P. Hodgson and M. Simm (Social Services Department); M. Bowmer (County Treasurer's Department). Part of meeting: Chief Education Officer, G. Hales; M. Norton (Social Services Department).

The Sub-Committee considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with the following additional papers:

Agenda Item

- Schedule of Addenda;

- Letter dated 26.3.98 from DfEE concerning the County Council's Early 4 Years Development Plan

Copies of which agenda, reports and additional papers are attached to the signed Minutes, and in relation thereto the Sub-Committee determined as follows:-

15/98 ELECTION TO CHAIR

RESOLVED:that Councillor Evans (Conservative) be elected to chair the meeting.

16/98 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS

Apologies for absence, temporary appointments and Group Leader substitutions were reported as follows:

Apology from Temporary Appointment/Substitute

Councillor Campbell Councillor Richardson Councillor Roaf Councillor Janet Morgan Councillor Shouler -

Page 5 17/98 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 1998 were approved and signed.

18/98 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Minute 9/98 - Early Years Development Plan for Oxfordshire 1998-2001

Mr Harmes circulated copies of a letter received from the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) informing the Chief Education Officer of the Secretary of State's decision to delay approval of the Early Years Development Plan for Oxfordshire 1998-2001 at this stage, and had asked for it to be re-submitted by 15 June 1998. Mr Harmes reported that he had been assured by the DfEE that the operational arrangements connected with the Plan would come into effect at the beginning of April and would not be affected by the delay in obtaining the DFEE's final approval for the Plan.

The Chief Education Officer reminded the Sub-Committee that Oxfordshire was the fifth lowest provider of nursery places in the country and that therefore any expansion of provision was against a very low base. He reported that the Oxfordshire Pre-School Learning Alliance had written to the DfEE expressing their concerns about the County Council's policy of expanding its Early Years Unit provision, but also giving an assurance that the County's relationship with the Alliance was excellent. He acknowledged the funding problems the Alliance were experiencing, particularly in view of their cut in County Council funding as part of the Council's overall Budget reductions, but he expressed optimism that the issues raised by the Alliance to the DfEE could be resolved by means of continuing discussion.

19/98 PETITIONS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS

(a) A petition was presented by Ms Fiona Porter, Chairperson of Little Owls Nursery and a county officer of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, on behalf of the parents and carers of pre-school children in Oxfordshire, in the following terms:

"We, the undersigned, urge Oxfordshire County Council to recognise that pre-schools matter. In January 1997 10,612 children attended 333 pre-schools in membership of Oxfordshire Pre-School Learning Alliance.

Pre-Schools matter - to children because they provide the first steps for a sound educational start in life.

Pre-Schools matter - for parents, they provide the opportunity to contribute towards the local community in which they are bringing up their children.

Pre-Schools matter - to the community. Many parents are encouraged by their positive experience of being valued at pre-school. They move on to become involved in schools, parent teacher associations and governing bodies, having gained confidence and committee skills. In Oxfordshire many adult education tutors and day-care advisors became involved in early years work through their children's pre-school.

We the undersigned, urge Oxfordshire County Council to:

- prevent the unnecessary closure of pre-schools in Oxfordshire by ensuring LEA Early Years Units are only established where in each case the need for such provision can be demonstrated and that there is support for it in the local community, and taking into account the distinctive contribution that each different sector can make to the overall mixed economy of early years provision.

- to reinstate the grant to the Pre-school Learning Alliance in Oxfordshire who provide much needed support to pre-schools."

(502 signatures)

Page 6 (b) Mr Malcolm reported that the following request to address the meeting had been agreed:

Request from Agenda Item

Mr B.W. Croft of ) The Close Nursery School, ) 14 Prospect Road, Banbury, Oxon. and County )7 - Early Years Units and representative of the National Private Day Care Nursery Extension Proposals Nurseries Association. )

Mr Croft spoke of the importance of the contribution by private sector providers to the overall mixed economy of early years educational provision in Oxfordshire. As an illustration, he highlighted the favourable Ofsted reports received by 8 of the 9 private sector providers in Thame and the need for such high quality provision within the Thame community. Mr Croft compared favourably the educational experience which a child in the private sector could expect to receive compared to that offered by an early years unit. He also expressed his concern at the future viability of private nurseries and playgroups following the opening of the County's Early Years Units, and gave his reasons for this. He urged the Sub-Committee to continue to recognise the importance of the private sector provision as part of their Early Years Plans.

20/98 FINAL UPDATE ON POLICY PLANS 1998/99 AFFECTING EARLY YEARS (Agenda Item 6)

The Sub-Committee considered a final update on those policy and budget plan reductions for 1998/99 which had a direct impact on the funding of early years provision, as agreed by the County Council on 17 February 1998.

RESOLVED: to note the report EY6.

21/98 EARLY YEARS UNITS AND NURSERY EXTENSION PROPOSALS (Agenda Item 7)

The Sub-Committee considered a report (EY7) which set out applications from governing bodies to expand the County Council's early years provision at RAF Benson CP School; Glory Farm CP School, Bicester; and Grimsbury St. Leonards CP School, Banbury.

Mr Harmes reported receipt of a letter from Benson Infant & Junior School, a neighbouring school to RAF Benson CP School, raising no objection to the RAF Benson CP School proposal.

Ms Place sought information on: the responses to the consultation on the proposal for RAF Benson CP School; the availability of statistics showing current early years provision for 3 and 4 year olds in Banbury; and whether all future applications would be presented to the Early Years Development Partnership prior to submission to this Sub-Committee for approval. Mr Harmes gave assurances that all the proposals before the Sub-Committee had been discussed at a recent meeting of the Partnership and there had been no major objections to any of the schemes, and that all future proposals would be submitted to the Partnership prior to consideration by the Sub-Committee. The statistics on early years provision in Banbury had become available prior to the commencement of the Sub-Committee meeting and would be circulated widely to all providers at the public meeting to be held in Banbury later that week.

RESOLVED:

(a) to approve, the proposal to create a new early years unit at RAF Benson CP School from September 1998 and to authorise the school to admit children younger than rising five from that date onwards;

(b) to approve the proposal from the Governing Body of Glory Farm C.P. School, Bicester as

Page 7 supported by Cherwell Divisional Liaison Panel, to expand the existing nursery class from 26 fte to 39 fte from September 1998 onwards;

(c) to approve the proposal from the Governing Body of Grimsbury St Leonards CP School, as supported by the Cherwell Divisional Liaison Panel, to expand the existing satellite nursery class at the East Street Centre, Banbury from 13 fte to 26 fte from September 1998 onwards; this to be achieved by allowing the class to operate during the afternoons as well as the mornings; and

(d) in the case of the Glory Farm and the East Street proposals in relation to the issue of planned places for three year olds, not to increase the existing planned places and to inform the Education Committee accordingly;

(e) (on a motion by Councillor Mitchell, seconded by Councillor MacKenzie and carried nem con):

(i) that the Chief Education Officer be asked to arrange a seminar on Early Years Units, to take place on 10 June 1998 commencing at 1.00pm, to which members of the Early Years Sub-Committee, the Early Years Development Partnership, and the Group Spokespersons of the Education and Social Services Committees be invited, for whom members' allowances would be payable; and that any further invitations to Education and Social Services Committee members would be at the discretion of the Chief Education Officer, subject to the availability of places; and that the Chief Education Officer be requested to supply all non-invited County Councillors with the documentation for information;

(ii) in order to facilitate the early consideration of any further applications for Early Years Units to be implemented in September 1998, to arrange a meeting of the Sub-Committee on 15 June 1998 commencing at 10.00am; and consequently to cancel the meeting previously arranged for 16 July 1998.

22/98 POSITION STATEMENT OF DAY CARE DEVELOPMENT TEAM - SOCIAL SERVICES (Agenda Item 8)

Maureen Norton, Unit Manager, Day Care Development Team gave a presentation on the role and agreed priorities of the Social Services Day Care Development Team and on the range of tasks undertaken over the past 2 years.

At members' suggestion, Mr Harmes undertook to submit a brief report to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee which would update members on the activities of the Parenting Forum.

RESOLVED: to:

(a) note the report;

(b) request the Director of Social Services to inform all staff involved in Day Care Development work that the Sub-Committee appreciated their work; and

(c) (on a motion by Councillor Mayhew-Archer, seconded by Councillor Evans and carried nem con) thank Ms Norton for her presentation and the Team for their work.

23/98 PLAYGROUP RENTS AND CHARGES (Agenda Item 9)

On 4 March 1998 the Education Management Sub-Committee had approved proposed charging arrangements for the use of school premises by playgroups, subject to the views of this Sub-Committee and the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education. The Sub-Committee had the report before them (EY9).

Ms Place expressed her concern that there were many small community playgroups operating in

Page 8 rural areas which often only met 2/3 times per week, for which funding was already a problem. It was feared that as more applications for early years units were approved, funding for 4 year olds would decrease and groups would be forced into closure.

Ms Johnson reported that though the Early Years Development Partnership welcomed some standardisation in procedure, they were also concerned about the deprivation which could be caused to small playgroups in rural areas and also to affected after school clubs and playschemes.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor MacKenzie, duly seconded, as amended by Councillor Mitchell with the consent of the mover and the Committee and carried nem con) to convey the following observations to the Education Committee:

(a) that this Sub-Committee approves in principle the revised charging arrangements for use of school premises by playgroups as set out in paragraphs 6 - 9 of the report subject to:

(1) the deletion, at paragraph 7 of the report, of W.S Atkins' charges and the legal services recharge of 'about £2,000' and substitution of '£500.00 initially, to be reviewed in future' which may be waived by application to, and with the agreement of, the Chief Education Officer; but that such charges should not apply to groups which had already commenced negotiating a lease prior to 1 April 1998;

(2) should (1) above not be accepted, but '£2,000' be agreed as set out in the report, the sum should be payable by instalments over a two year period;

(3) that the Chief Education Officer be asked to prepare a leaflet for the information of the public on the finally agreed decision; and

(b) authorise officers to establish and implement market rents, lease duration and review period under the revised charging arrangements, to be applied to all new agreements from 1 April 1998 and to existing agreements as practicable.

24/98 EDUCATION MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE (Agenda Item 10)

On 4 March 1998 the Education Management Sub-Committee had approved a detailed project appraisal for various works to Kings Meadow Primary School, Bicester, including the construction of an Early Years Unit to be attached to the main building. In approving the project appraisal the Sub-Committee had also recommended that this Sub-Committee to consider the revenue implications arising from the creation of a 'new pre-school' facility at the school, and the type of early years provision proposed as part of the proposed extension scheme and where it would be likely to require the publication of Statutory Notices and to advise the Education Committee accordingly. The Sub-Committee had before them the detailed project appraisal (EY10).

The Chair conveyed a message from Councillor D.L.B. Spencer, local member, stating that the school wwould welcome a proposal to establish a nursery class facility.

RESOLVED: to:

(a) RECOMMEND the Education Committee to publish a statutory notice under section 35 of the Education Act 1996 to establish a new nursery class as part of the proposed extension scheme at Kings Meadow County Primary School, Bicester and to extend the age range of Kings Meadow CP School, Bicester from 5-11 years to 3-11 years and that, subject to no objections being received, the proposals be implemented with effect from September 1999 or upon completion of the works (whichever was the later);

(b) advise the Education Committee of the additional resource implications of funding up to 8 half-time places for 3 year olds at the nursery (£6,900 per annum at current prices); and

Page 9 (c) advise the Education Committee that, if these additional resources implications could not be met in 1999/2000, the new nursery at Kings Meadow County Primary School be established initially as an early years unit admitting four year olds only and that it should only be allowed to admit 3 year olds at such time as additional resources became available.

25/98 URGENCY SUB-COMMITTEE (Agenda Item 11)

RESOLVED: that the Urgency Sub-Committee Minutes of 17 March 1998 be received.

...... in the Chair

Date of signing ...... 1998

Page 10 Social Services and Education Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY10

THE REGULATION OF EARLY EDUCATION AND DAY CARE (GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION PAPER) Report by the Director of Social Services and Chief Education Officer Division(s) affected: All

Introduction

1. The Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Health have jointly issued a consultation document on the Regulation of Early Education and Day Care. It addresses options that flow from what it describes as a re-examination of "the scope of regulation and inspection" and the intention is to "create a new, more uniform regulatory regime which better reflects the needs of an integrated approach to care and education, and can respond to the inevitable challenges demanded by the growth in early years places".

2. This report briefly explains the context and scope of this review and includes at Annex 2, the 39 questions upon which the Government is seeking responses. It then suggests a process for responding to the consultation.

Context of the Review

3. Providers of day care for children under the age of 8, who look after such children for more than 2 hours in any day for five days or more in any year, are required to register under Part X of the Children Act 1989.

4. In Oxfordshire these functions are undertaken by Registration and Inspection Officers in the Social Services Inspection Unit.

5. Maintained schools are inspected every four years under Section 10 of the Schools Inspection Act 1996. Independent schools are inspected about every seven years by OFSTED. In addition, all institutions, with the exception of maintained schools, are subject to inspection by an OFSTED Nursery Education Inspector under the Nursery Education and Grant Maintained Schools Act, if they are in receipt of nursery education grant (see Annex 1).

6. It is in this, potentially confusing context that the Government is seeking to produce:

- the unification of currently separate education and the Children Act regulatory process; - the creation of a framework which would contain a unified set of national standards for under 8's regulation; and - the establishment of a national system for the training of inspectors and also for the production of data.

7. The Government has modelled this integration by giving national lead to the DFEE. There is now no Department of Health role.

The Scope of the Review of Regulation

8. In the consultation document the Government summarises the scope of the review. It states that it intends:

- to continue to promote child protection and child welfare as well as high standards of early education and day care through regulation; - to encourage consistency of regulatory standards across all sectors; - to ensure proper separation of the provision and regulation of services; - to reflect the move towards the increasing integration of early education and day care and the emergence of new types of day care services; and - where practicable, to close regulatory loop holes.

9. It states, however, that the Government does not intend:

Page 11 - to erode the child protection and promotion of child welfare afforded by the Children Act 1989; - to dilute the educational standards assumed by OFSTED inspectors of maintained schools, and of providers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors; - to reduce the vigour with which providers of day care who threaten the welfare of children will be pursued, through the courts if necessary; - to lose the experience and expertise of existing Social Services department registration and inspection officers, or of OFSTED registered nursery inspectors; and - to increase the regulatory burden on providers of services.

10. The review therefore includes existing regulatory systems but also discusses the possible extension of regulation to

- over night care; - nannies; - provision for children 8 years and over; and - school provision for under 8's.

11. A number of these issues have been identified as anomalies by Oxfordshire's Independent Inspection Unit.

The Consultation Process

12. Responses are required by the end of July. To date a brief report focusing on children at regulatory aspects of the consultation exercise has been submitted to the 2 June 1998 Social Services Committee. The document was discussed at the Early Years Development Partnership on 1 June 1998 (officers will be able to provide oral feedback) and at the Social Services Inspection Advisory Panel at their meeting on 27 April 1998.

13. The Social Services Committee resolved to authorise the Chief Inspector and the Director of Social Services to prepare a county response to the consultation document, following consultation with the Group Spokespersons of Social Services Committee, with this Sub-Committee, with the Social Services Inspection Advisory Panel and other appropriate consultees. They also requested that a copy of the final response be sent to all members of the relevant Committees.

14. The 39 questions posed in the document include highly complex technical queries as well as addressing broad principles. While the Sub-Committee at this stage may wish to address some of them, it is probably impracticable to come to a view on all of them. It is therefore suggested that, prior to the Council's final submission, discussions take place between relevant officers, and Group Spokespersons to consider the various outcomes of consultation and agree responses to each of the questions.

Conclusion

15. Early education and early intervention and child care more generally are achieving unprecedented national attention. In the face of a government drive to expand not only education for 3 and 4 year olds but also the scale and range of child care options available for working parents, rationalisation of the current regulatory system is perhaps inevitable, as well as providing an opportunity to address areas not currently subject to regulation. Any such change will inevitably impact not only on providers but also on Council staff currently employed in supporting current regulatory functions. It is therefore important that due consideration is given to these aspects in particular as part of Oxfordshire's response to the consultation exercise.

Staff and Financial Implications

16. There are no staff or financial imlications arising from this report. However, the impact of changes foreshadowed in the consultation document would be substantial.

Effects on People Living in Poverty

Page 12 17. None at present.

RECOMMENDATIONS

18. The Sub-Committee are recommended to:

(a) address and comment upon key questions they identify within the consultation document; and

MARY ROBERTSON Director of Social Services

G.M. BADMAN Chief Education Officer

Background Papers: Consultation Paper on the Regulation of Early Education and Day Care issued by DFEE and DOH, 1998 (a copy of which has been placed in the Members' Resource Centre).

Contact Officers: Michael Simm (Strategic Commissioning Officer, Children and Families) Tel: 01865 815892. Rick Harmes (Principal Education Officer, Lifelong Learning) Tel: 01865 810626.

June 1998

Page 13 Education & Social Services Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY6

EARLY YEARS UNITS (EYUs) Report by the Chief Education Officer Division(s) affected: All

Introduction

1. The County Council has recently confirmed that it wishes to encourage the creation of new Early Years Units in primary schools. The EYU approach has now become the LEA's main means of expanding early years education.

2. According to the County's Early Years Development Plan, the following factors must be taken into account when a new Early Years Unit is proposed:

- that the need for such provision can be demonstrated

- that there is support for it in the local community

- that each sector's distinctive contribution to a mixed economy of early years provision is taken into account

3. Currently, there are five Early Years Units in operation. A further eight are planned to open in September 1998. The full picture is as follows:

EYUs currently in operation EYUs planned to open in Oct 98

Abingdon, Carswell CP (Sept 97) Banbury, Harners Ground CP Abingdon, St Edmund's RC (Apr 98) Banbury, Queensway CP Banbury, St John's RC (Jan 98) Banbury, St Joseph's RC Bicester, St Mary's RC (Jan 98) Benson, RAF Benson CP Yarnton, William Fletcher CP (Jan 98) Launton CE Marcham CE Thame, Barley Hill CP Thame, St Joseph's RC

4. This report presents an initial evaluation of the work of the first four Units to open in the County and recommends that approval be given for a further EYU to begin operation in September 1998.

Evaluation of the First Four Early Years Units

5. The Early Years Team has carried out initial evaluations of the EYUs at: Carswell School, Abingdon - Annex 1; St John's Primary School in Banbury; St Mary's RC Primary in Bicester and William Fletcher CP School in Yarnton - Annex 4. These evaluations are set out in Annexes 1 to 4. In the case of the Banbury and Bicester Units the evaluations have also been discussed recently by the Cherwell Divisional Liaison Panel.

6. The evaluations show that good progress has been made at all four EYUs and especially at Carswell and at William Fletcher. In the case of the two Cherwell Units, the Divisional Liaison Panel has expressed its satisfaction at their progress, but also the following concerns:

Banbury, St John's: at the current unfavourable staff/child ratio and the length of time it is taking for the proposed fencing to be installed; and

Bicester, St Mary's: at the current unfavourable staff/child ratio of 2 adults to 34 children.

New Early Years Unit Proposal

7. The Head and Governors of Bishop Loveday CE Primary School, Bodicote, have applied to open an

Page 14 Early Years Unit in September 1998. A brief summary of the proposal is set out in Annex 5. A copy of the full proposal and supporting papers are available in the Members' Resource Centre.

Environmental, Staff and Financial Implications and Implications for People Living in Poverty

8. There are no environmental or staff implications arising from the recommendations at the end of this report.

9. The financial implications of opening a new Early Years Unit at Bishop Loveday School are set out in Annex 5. These costs can be met automatically from national early years grant.

10. In principle, the establishment of new early years provision of good quality will be of particular benefit any local children whose families are living in poverty.

RECOMMENDATIONS

11. The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) consider and receive the evaluation reports on Oxfordshire's first four Early Years Units; and

G M BADMAN Chief Education Officer

Background Papers: (1) Early Years Unit proposal prepared by Head and Governors of Bishop Loveday CE School, Bodicote; and (2) Quality and premises assessments carried out by the Education Department (copies of which have been placed in the Members' Resource Centre)

Contact Officer: Rick Harmes, Principal Education Officer, Tel: (01865) 810626

25 May 1998

Page 15 Education & Social Services Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY6

EARLY YEARS UNITS (EYUs) ANNEX 1 Early Years Unit at Carswell CP School, Abingdon

EARLY YEARS UNIT AT CARSWELL CP SCHOOL, ABINGDON

This Early Years Unit was given permission to open July 1997. By dint of a huge effort on the school's part it was ready to open in September 1997. The governors painted and decorated the room, essentials were ordered, parents donated items, teachers looked at their existing resources for apparatus that would be appropriate for very young children and the Early Years Unit teacher planned and organised the space and equipment ready for the new children in September.

The 26 place Early Years Unit takes four year olds part-time and rising 5's full-time. It has a staffing ration of 1:13 with an Early Years teacher and a Learning Support Assistant (LSA), who has had experience of working with the youngest children in the school. The reception children are in the main school.

The indoor space is large enough to ensure that children can learn through first hand experience, talk and play. A workshop area, sand, water, home bay, block play, teaching tables, book area and cloak room are available to the children all the time. The furniture is an appropriate size and height.

The outside area is safe and secure and funds are being allocated to equip it as part of the school's development plan. There is a small climbing frame and some wheeled equipment. The children spend some of their day outside, however the visibility from the inside to the outside is poor leaving either teacher or LSA out of contact with each other.

The school offers many opportunities for both formal and informal contact with the children and their families eg. visits prior to starting school, home-school reading programme, regular newsletters, teacher available informally at the beginning and end of the day and for more formal opportunities to exchange information.

The constant movement of some of the children as a result of life attached to the army is something the school understands. The likely emotional impact is recognised and the teacher implements different strategies to help the children feel they belong eg. taking photographs of all the children attending the sessions. Efficient and effective record keeping takes place.

Relationships within the Early Years Unit are constructive. The children are treated with dignity and respect and appropriate styles of interaction are modelled by the staff. All children have opportunities to experience something eg. planting seeds, playing games etc. as well as opportunities for their personal interests and requests to be followed up. There is a good balance between teacher focused and initiated activities and child-initiated activities.

An interesting and relevant curriculum is planned covering all aspects of the early years curriculum. The needs of children with special educational needs are sensitively handled and an appropriate curriculum is worked out and provided. Time is set aside for observation, so that assessment can feed planning.

Carswell County Primary School are committed to offering quality provision for the very young child.

Sue Hale

Early Years Advisory Headteacher

May 1998

Page 16 Education & Social Services Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY6

EARLY YEARS UNITS (EYUs) ANNEX 4 Early Years Unit at William Fletcher CP School, Yarnton

EARLY YEARS UNIT AT WILLIAM FLETCHER CP SCHOOL, YARNTON

The Early Years Unit opened in January 1998, and fulfilled the required criteria with the exception of the following, which are expected to be in place, as agreed, by the end of the year:

- ramped access to the building - a third toilet and wash basin

The outside area has now been fenced and planted with trees, and a large sand pit and cover have been built. A wooden shed and some paving slabs have been ordered, and are expected to be in place by the end of this term. Existing outdoor equipment can then be augmented and stored safely, and there will be space to store less frequently used indoor resources as well, making more floor space available within the building.

The staff in the Unit have worked hard to establish effective planning, assessment and record keeping systems, and feel that although the Unit has only been open for a term and a half, the children are meeting the planned learning objectives very well indeed. My discussions with the headteacher, staff, parents and children during visits to the Unit, and observation and examination of the children's work support this view. Staff commented that the children benefited particularly by being able to work with others in this age range, and that the older children were excellent models both as learners and in a wider social context for the younger ones, who in turn enabled older children to develop a deeper understanding about the needs of younger children.

The adult:child ratio of 1:13 is demanding for all concerned, however, and staff felt that 1:10, in line with nursery schools, would be more appropriate, notwithstanding the financial implications of such a move. Planned future developments include closer links with the new playgroup staff, for more effective joint planning, consistency and continuity of experience for these youngest children.

During the consultation process prior to the opening of the Unit, concern was expressed by the playgroup that although they generally supported the establishment of an Early Years Unit, the financial implications for them could be very serious.

During the Autumn Term, the playgroup opened for five morning sessions, and four afternoon sessions, but have subsequently had to close two afternoon sessions, and will probably close a third in the near future. The total on roll in the Autumn Term was 39, of whom 15 were four year olds, 20 were three year olds and 4 were two and a half year olds.

This Summer Term, there are 26 on roll, of whom 2 are four year olds, 20 are three year olds and 4 are two and a half year olds. There are 5 four year olds due to start playgroup in September, and a waiting list of 7 other children, which is roughly the same as this time last year.

Fees to parents for children other than the four year olds have risen from £2.50 to £3.00 per session, and the group no longer employ a cleaner - staff now do the cleaning themselves. The Registration Secretary for the playgroup said that some new housing and a larger than usual number of two year olds in the village meant that although the group had come near to closing, there was now a more optimistic view of the future, and that many parents had children in both settings, and would wish both to continue.

Kristine Tutton

Early Years Development Officer

May 1998

Page 17 Page 18 Education & Social Services Committees EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY6

EARLY YEARS UNITS (EYUs) ANNEX 5 Early Years Unit Proposal (Summary of key points)

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICE

EARLY YEARS UNIT PROPOSAL (Summary of key points)

1. Name of school

Bishop Loveday CE (Aided) School, Bodicote.

2. Brief description of proposal (including resource implications)

The school had 365 on roll in January 1998. In 1998/99, the school has a special needs index of 4.06%.

The school's proposal is to create two reception groups of up to 26 children, with all children entering the school in the September after their fourth birthday. In the Autumn term all children will receive half time education and in the Spring and Summer terms all children will be admitted full time. The additional four-year-olds benefiting from this proposal are estimated at 29 in 1998/99 and the additional resource implications are estimated at £12,000 in the current financial year.

In the November 1995 Nursery Development Plans submitted by Cherwell Division officers, Bodicote was mentioned as a possible option for priority scheme 15.

3. Quality assessment

This scheme is assessed as satisfactory on all fourteen of the County's quality criteria.

4. Premises assessment

The school's proposal meets all premises requirements. There are plans to instal a further toilet by January 1999 and to create a new external door direct from the classroom to the fenced outdoor area (also by January 1999).

5. Comments of Divisional Liaison Panel

The Panel considered the proposal at their meeting on 21 May. The proposal is considered to meet local needs and it is not expected to have any major impact on other pre-school provision locally. One local pre-school claimed not to have been consulted about the proposal. As a result it was agreed that one of the pre-school learning alliance representatives on the panel would investigate this further and report back. Generally however, the school's proposal was fully supported by the Liaison Panel.

6. Comments of Early Years Development Partnership

The proposal was considered by the Partnership on 1 June. The Partnership gave its support to the proposal.

Page 19 Education and Social Services Committees Division(s) affected: All EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY11

THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAYCARE FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS Report by Assistant Chief Executive (PPRU), Director of Social Services and Chief Education Officer.

Introduction

1. On 5 February 1998 this Sub-Committee received a `Position Statement' report in relation to a bid that was being submitted to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) to develop daycare for three and four year olds in educational settings. The bid was successful, although at a reduced level to that applied for, and a grant of £56,000 has been allocated to Oxfordshire (a copy of the bid has been placed in the Members' Resource Centre). This report outlines the proposals for implementing the grant (grant funds must be spent by 31 March 1999).

The content of the bid

2. There are several elements to the grant as follows:

(a) Specialist advice, support and information to parents and providers (£5,000) It is proposed that information to parents and providers might be developed through the Children's Information Service. The ACE Centre may also have a role in developing information to providers. A working group of representatives of the Early Years Development Partnership will be established to develop this element of the bid.

(b) Grants to support pilot schemes (£30,000) Applications will be invited from the statutory, private and voluntary sectors. A minimum of 5 pilot schemes will be considered (preferably with a geographical spread and in areas of identified need). Detailed project appraisals will be then carried out with the support of specialist advisors in the Early Years Team, the Education Department, and the Daycare Development Team, Social Services Department.

The deadline for outline applications will be Friday 11 September 1998. A meeting will be held to consider the outline applications on 22 September 1998. A meeting to consider the detailed applications will take place on Wednesday, 4 November 1998.

(c) Children with special needs (£21,000). This element of the bid is to develop a course for childminders, on caring for children with Special Needs. There will be three pilot courses. It is anticipated that the course will become accredited by the Open College Network. A support network for childminders will also be developed. A multi agency working group will be formed to take this element of the bid forward.

Seminar on Developing Daycare

3. As a part of the proposals in the bid a seminar was held on Monday, 23 March 1998 on `Developing Daycare'. The seminar included workshops on `Developing daycare provision in nurseries' and `Developing after school and holiday schemes'. There was to have been a workshop on `Developing daycare for children with special needs' but this did not take place due to the low numbers wishing to participate in it.

4. It became clear at the seminar that for many parents it made sense to have education and care provided by the same people and in the same place. For some nursery schools and playgroups developing daycare is seen as the only way to stem the reduction in the numbers of four year olds attending their settings.

5. The workshops identified that there is no one best way to develop daycare provision in educational settings. The way that it is done will depend greatly on the individual circumstances of the school, private nursery or playgroup and it may offer opportunities to develop closer partnership working

Page 20 arrangements on some school sites.

6. In some cases developing daycare in an educational setting is done through working with voluntary organisations to provide morning, after-school and lunch time care. In such cases the school has not got the overall responsibility of managing the scheme or staff working on the scheme. Costs and charges are set by the voluntary organisation. One drawback of this type of arrangement is that children may be looked after by a variety of carers in a variety of settings on the nursery school site.

7. In other cases daycare has become an integrated part of the nursery school. This entails the school governors being responsible for the management of the scheme and the LEA responsible for the payment of staff salaries, charges and administration costs (the indications are that these schemes can be self- financing after a year). Although there may be additional responsibilities for the school governors and the LEA, this scheme offers continuity of care and the LEA an ability to control qualitative standards.

8. The more traditional, voluntary managed, provision should be relatively straight forward to set up but schemes looking at integrating care and education in LEA nursery schools and classes may require more consideration because there will be some issues that the local authority will need to address. These include:

(a) the setting of qualitative standards; (b) establishing levels of charges for the care element of the scheme; (c) the need for clarity on the registration, inspection and legal framework; (d) taking a view on providing setting up and administration costs.

9. As a result of this seminar some LEA nursery schools have expressed an interest in developing proposals for setting up daycare schemes in their schools and it is likely that they will be making an application to become a pilot scheme as outlined in paragraph 2 (c ).

Other developments

Children with special needs

10. As a result of the cancellation of the workshop on `Special Needs' an alternative meeting was held on Thursday, 7 May 1998 to discuss daycare provision for children with special needs. During the course of these discussions four key areas of need were identified:

(a) Training The group decided that they will meet again to discuss the possibility of a training course to address the skill base for Play/Leisure/Care workers.

(b) Development and support The Oxfordshire Play Association, Daycare Development Team and Parasol will co-ordinate development and support to individual special schools.

(c) Pilot scheme A pilot after school project will be run at John Watson and Mable Prichard Special Schools. Funds are currently being sought from charities and trusts.

(d) Transport

`Meeting the Childcare Challenge'

11. The development of daycare for three and four year olds in educational settings is likely to be a key part of the National Childcare Strategy. It is anticipated that there will be a growing emphasis on ensuring that this is a key element within the Early Years Development Plans.

12. A Green Paper `Meeting the Childcare Challenge' sets out how the Government intends to develop a National Childcare Strategy. (An Executive Summary of the proposals is given in Annex 1).

Page 21 Deadline for receiving comments on the Green Paper is Tuesday 28 July 1998.

Environmental Implications and Implications for People Living in Poverty.

13. If the DfEE grant is successful in developing wrap-around provision in educational settings for three and four year olds this will enable more parents to access training and employment opportunities. This may reduce the number of people living in poverty. If parents do not have to use a combination of childcare/educational services this may reduce the number of car journeys that are made and this may lead to some environmental benefits.

Financial and Staff Implications

14. The County Council has an additional £60,000 to develop daycare services in the County. Match funding of £60,000 must also be raised. Of this match funding the County Council has made a commitment of £12,000 in kind. This is made up from existing resources and include specialist adviser time from the Early Years Team and Daycare Development Team, training and administration costs. Other match funding is expected to be in kind, from schools and the private and voluntary sectors (particularly in respect to match funding the setting up grant for pilot projects).

Conclusions

15. The new National Childcare Strategy is likely to place this issue higher up the political agenda and national government is clearly keen to look at developing daycare in educational settings in all sectors, including the LEA. For some time the County Council has been working with the private and voluntary sectors to develop daycare for working parents and has worked closely with other organisations to develop out of school and holiday play schemes for school aged children. Developing daycare for three and four year olds in educational settings will build upon this work.

16. It would appear that there have been some barriers to developing daycare in LEA nursery schools and classes and that there are some issues for the Council to address if they wish to see this type of development taking place. The DFEE grant will enable pilot schemes to be established which will offer an opportunity to identify some of the barriers and enable the Council to come to a considered view on the future policies that it might wish to implement.

17. A condition of receipt of the grant is that it is an agreed part of the Early Years Development Plan. The Early Years Development Partnership and the Early Years Sub-Committee will be kept informed developments.

RECOMMENDATIONS

18. The Sub Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the contents of the report, in particular the issues outlined in paragraph 8;

STEPHEN CAPALDI Assistant Chief Executive

G.M. BADMAN Chief Education Officer

MARY ROBERTSON

Page 22 Director of Social Services

Background papers: `Developing Daycare', Oxfordshire County Council's Grant Application to the DfEE

Contact Officers: Valerie Johnson, Social and Economic Development Officer, Chief Executives Office Tel: 01865 810816 Rick Harmes, Principal Education Officer, Education Department. Tel: 01865 0626 Mike Simm, Strategic Commissioning Officer, Social Services Department Tel: 01865 815892

8 June 1998

Page 23 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY7

NURSERY ADMISSIONS POLICY Report by the Chief Education Officer Division(s) affected: All

Introduction

1. Since September 1997 there has been a single countywide admissions policy - locally administered - for nursery schools and classes. This replaces the previous approach in which Governors set their own admissions policies in the light of County Council guidelines.

2. The first year's operation of the policy has recently been reviewed. This was done by gathering information and comments from officers and headteachers and assessing recent correspondence with parents on nursery admissions. The outcome of the review is presented in this report.

3. A revised version of the policy is attached as the annex to this report. The revised version takes account of several issues that have arisen during the first year of operation of the policy. These issues are set out in the paragraphs which follow.

Issues

4. The main issue for nursery admissions during the past year has been the application of the planned place number for three-year-olds. Several nurseries have come under pressure to exceed the planned number due to a lack of four-year-olds coming forward for admission in their area. In all cases where a request to exceed the planned number has been made, it has been agreed by the officer for the school concerned. This is in accordance with the discretionary arrangements agreed by the Sub-Committee last year.

5. In January 1998, there were 842 three-year-olds on roll in the County's nursery schools and classes. This exceeded the total planned place level by 112 or 15%. Members will recall that where increases in nursery numbers have recently been agreed (e.g. at Grimsbury St Leonards CE, Banbury and Glory Farm CP, Bicester), the planned number for three-year-olds has deliberately not been raised. In this connection, Members should be aware that one primary school (West Oxford CP) has formally requested an increase in its planned place level for three-year-olds from 8 to 12 children.

6. The revised policy assumes that the present, rather open-ended approach will continue unchanged. In other words, a planned number for three-year-olds will continue to be set by the County, but the Education Officer for the school will have the discretion to allow schools to exceed the planned number on a term by term basis.

The alternatives would be:

- to discontinue the system of planned admissions numbers, thus relinquishing any vestige of budgetary control; or

- to apply the planned admissions figure strictly with the possibility that some nursery classes might be forced to close through lack of numbers.

7. Another issue affecting nursery admissions policy is the treatment of those nurseries which serve several geographically distinct communities. This applies particularly in rural areas, but also in some urban areas as well. A strict application of the distance criterion would mean that children from some more distant communities could be totally excluded from admission to the nursery. The revised policy addresses this issue by allowing governors to apply `quota systems' to any distinct geographical communities within the overall designated area for the nursery. This confirms long-standing practice in a number of nurseries across the County.

8. A further issue which has arisen in one oversubscribed nursery class recently is a concern about

Page 24 the operation of the older brother or sister criterion and of the distance criterion. In this case the school and the LEA have come under strong pressure from parents to abandon these criteria. They are seen by the parents as discriminating against certain children (i.e. first born or only children) and against certain streets within the nursery's designated area. In the case of oversubscription, this particular group of parents would prefer the LEA to allow a system of random selection. In their view this would give all children an equal chance of being admitted. Copies of relevant correspondence on the issue are available in the Members' Resource Centre.

Conclusions

9. Despite these issues, the change to a new countywide nursery admissions policy, locally administered in schools, has been accomplished fairly smoothly in the first year. This is against a background of major changes in national early years policy and funding, and of rising parental expectations concerning the availability of good quality early years education. The revised admissions policy attached takes on board a number of the key issues raised during the first year of operation but leaves others unresolved. It is recommended that the policy be reviewed again in a year's time.

Environmental, Financial and Staff Implications and Implications for People Living in Poverty

10. There are no environmental or staff implications arising from the recommendations in this report.

11. There are potential financial implications for the Council if large numbers of additional three-year-olds are admitted to nursery schools and classes. However, present numbers are within the Council's planned budget and the revised policy has explicit budgetary controls built into it should they need to be applied.

12. On the other hand, it remains important to maintain and develop good quality nursery provision in the County, especially in those neighbourhoods where there are relatively large numbers of children living in poverty.

RECOMMENDATIONS

13. The Sub-Committee are RECOMMENDED to:

(a) approve the revised nursery admissions policy for 1998/99 as set out in the annex to the report EY7;

(b) note that the policy will be reviewed again in Spring 1999.

G M BADMAN Chief Education Officer

Background Papers: recent correspondence with nursery headteachers and with parents of Langford Village CP School, Bicester (copies available in the Members' Resource Centre)

Contact Officer: Rick Harmes, Principal Education Officer, Tel: (01865) 810626

26 May 1998

Page 25 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY07

ANNEX PROPOSED PLANNED PLACES FOR THREE-YEAR OLDS AND TARGET NUMBERS FOR FOUR-YEAR OLDS IN NURSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES (1998/99)

(Please scroll to the right to view all the columns)

PROPOSED PLANNED PLACES FOR THREE-YEAR OLDS AND TARGET NUMBERS FOR FOUR-YEAR OLDS IN NURSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES (1998/99)

Designated to capacity 15% of capacity Additional places for special Total planned Target number of (half-time places) needs places for three four year olds year olds Nursery Schools

1. Botley, Elms Road 80 12 - 12 68 2. Chipping Norton 80 12 - 12 68 3. Didcot, Lydalls 120 18 - 18 82* 4. Harwell AERE 80 12 - 12 68 5. Oxford, Bartlemas 80 12 6 18 62 6. Oxford, Grandpont 100 15 7 22 78 7. Oxford, Headington 80 12 6 18 62 8. Oxford, Slade 80 2 6 18 62 9. Ambrosden, Five Acres 52 8 - 8 44 10. Bicester, Longfields 52 8 - 8 44 11 Kidlington, E Feild 52 8 - 8 44 12. Kidlington, W Kidlington 52 8 - 8 44 13. Thame, John Hampden 52 8 - 8 44 14. Wantage 52 8 - 8 44 15. Wheatley 52 8 - 8 32*

Nursery Classes

16. Abingdon, Caldecott 52 8 - 8 44 17. Abingdon, Dunmore 78 12 - 12 66 18. Abingdon, Long Furlong 52 8 - 8 44 19. Abingdon, Thameside 52 8 - 8 44 20. Abingdon, Thomas Reade 52 8 - 8 44

21. Banbury, Grimsbury St Leonards 104 12+ 6 18 74* 22. Banbury, Neithrop 78 12 4 18 60 23. Banbury, St Mary's 52 8 6 12 40

Designated to capacity 15% of capacity Additional places for special Total planned Target number of (half-time places) needs places for three four year olds year olds

24. Banbury, William Morris 52 8 4 12 40 25. Berinsfield 78 12 - 12 66 26. Bicester, Brookside 52 8 - 8 44 27. Bicester, Glory Farm 78 8+ - 8 70 28. Bicester, Langford Village 52 8 - 8 44 29. Bicester, Southwold 52 8 - 8 44 30. Carterton CP 78 12 - 12 66 31. Carterton, Edith Moorhouse 78 12 - 12 66 32. Chinnor, Mill Lane 52 8 - 8 44 33. Didcot, All Saints 52 8 - 8 44 34. Didcot, Greenmere 78 12 - 12 66

Page 26 35. Eynsham 52 8 - 8 38* 36. Faringdon 52 8 - 8 44 37. Grove, Millbrook 52 8 - 8 32* 38. Henley, Valley Road 52 8 - 8 32* 39. Hook Norton 52 8 - 8 44 40. Kennington, St Swithuns 52 8 - 8 32* 41. Oxford, Barton Village 52 8 - 12 40 42. Oxford, Church Cowley 52 8 - 12 40 43. Oxford, Cutteslowe 78 2 - 18 40 44. Oxford, East Oxford 52 8 4 12 40 45. Oxford, Larkrise 52 8 4 12 40 46. Oxford, New Hinksey 52 8 4 12 40 47. Oxford, New Marston 78 12 6 18 60 48. Oxford, Orchard Meadow 52 8 4 12 40 49. Oxford, Pegasus 78 12 6 18 60 50. Oxford, Rose Hill 52 8 4 12 40 51. Oxford, Speedwell 52 8 4 12 40 52. Oxford, St Barnabas 52 8 4 12 40 53. Oxford, St Francis 52 8 4 12 40 54. Oxford, St John Fisher 52 8 4 12 28*

Designated to capacity 15% of capacity Additional places for special Total planned Target number of (half-time places) needs places for three four year olds year olds

55. Oxford, St Nicholas F 52 8 4 12 40 56. Oxford, West Oxford 52 8 - 0 44 57. Oxford, Windale 52 8 4 12 40 58. Oxford, Wolvercote 52 8 4 12 40 59. Shipton, Wychwood 52 8 - 8 44 60. Southmoor, John Blandy 26 4 - 4 22 61. Stanford-in-the-Vale 26 4 - 4 22 62. Sutton Courtenay 52 8 - 8 44 63. Wallingford, St Nicholas Infants 78 12 - 12 66 64. Witney CP 52 8 - 8 44 65. Witney, West Witney 52 8 - 8 32* 66 .Woodstock 52 8 - 8 44 3,976 605 119 724 t (18%)

* target figure excludes children with significant special educational needs in designated integrated nurseries. The admission of these children will continue to be decided according to need.

+ these figures represent 15% of the previous (ie. pre-1998) capacity of the nursery

June 1998

Page 27 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY7

NURSERY ADMISSIONS POLICY ANNEX Draft Policy for Admission to Nursery Schools and Classes 1998/99, Summer 1998

POLICY FOR NURSERY ADMISSIONS IN OXFORDSHIRE

1. Since September 1997 there has been one countywide admissions policy for nursery schools and classes. This has been determined by the LEA and administered in individual schools by Heads and Governors. This has ensured that nursery admissions are based on common principles but that there is sensitivity to local needs at the same time. Under the policy, the LEA reserves the right to advise and, where necessary, to take responsibility for the allocation of nursery places in individual schools.

2. The location of nursery schools and classes has been determined according to a number of factors, including social need. For this reason, nurseries are expected to serve a wide area and to give priority to children with special needs. The area from which admissions are drawn will normally extend beyond that of the primary school in which the nursery is located. The precise area served by the nursery school or class will vary according to local circumstances. The are should be drawn up by the Governors in consultation with the school's Education Officer. It should be set out clearly on a map and be available for parents to see on request.

In the unlikely event of a disagreement over areas between neighbouring nursery and primary schools, the matter will normally be resolved through discussions involving the school's Education Officer. If such discussions fail to produce a solution, the matter may be referred to the Early Years Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee will consider all relevant factors and decide accordingly.

3. When new children join the nursery, it is important that parents are made aware of any differences there may be between the designated area of the nursery and that of the primary school. Parents whose children attend the nursery from outside the designated area of the primary school should be reminded that their child is not guaranteed a place at the school when he/she reaches the normal school starting age (ie. the start of the rising five term).

4. According to the Children Act 1989, nursery education is one of a range of support services in each area for children under eight. Nursery schools and classes should give priority for admission to children with special needs. This will normally be in response to a referral by an Education professional or by a member of staff from another agency. If a nursery child has severe and complex special educational needs, the school's Education Officer should be made aware of the situation so that any additional resource implications can be assessed. It may be that provision for the child's special educational needs can best be made if the child attends an integrated nursery setting and is admitted onto the roll of a special school.

Governors are advised that one way of planning for such admissions is by reserving up to two places in each session for children with special needs or for `emergency admissions'. This is the approach that is most likely to preserve an overall balance of intake within the nursery. 5. It is good practice for nursery schools and classes to contain an appropriate mix of three and four year olds. Priority to admission should go to four year olds, but since September 1997 each nursery has had a proportion of `planned places' for three year olds. Priority for admissions at age three should be given to children with special needs.

6. It is good practice for children to spend three or four terms in nursery education. In exceptional circumstances admission for two or five terms may be considered.

7. It is a good practice for nurseries to admit new children who are transferring from a nursery school or class elsewhere.

8. Given the shortage of nursery places in Oxfordshire, the Council is keen that Governors should be

Page 28 aware of the importance of creating the largest number of places possible. Part-time admissions are the best way of doing this. On the other hand, full-time admissions may offer nurseries the flexibility to meet some families' needs.

9. It is good practice for nursery admissions to be decided by a panel of the Governing Body. This panel should be in a position to receive advice from Health, Social Services and the voluntary sector. Parents should be notified of the fact that a place is available for their child at least half a term in advance.

10. Copies of the school's nursery prospectus should be available on request to parents and to outside agencies. The prospectus should state the morning and afternoon session times of the nursery and set out its educational aims and provision. The prospectus should also set out the County Council's criteria for allocating nursery places when more applications are received than there are places available.

11. When more applications are received there are places available, the following County Council criteria for allocating nursery places must be applied. These are based on the admissions criteria for County primary schools, although they differ particularly in regard to the treatment of three and four year olds. Governors should apply the criteria by considering children from each priority category in turn until all the available places have been allocated.

(i) children with special needs (2 reserved places per session);

(ii) four year old children living in the designated area (with priority firstly to those who have an older brother or sister in the nursery or the main school and, secondly, to those children who live closest to the school by the nearest walking route). A four year old is a child who has already reached his/her fourth birthday by 1 September (Autumn term), 1 January (Spring term) or 1 April (Summer term).

(iii) four year old children living outside the designated area for the nursery with priority given firstly to those with an elder brother or sister attending either the nursery or the main school and then to those who live closest to the school by the nearest walking route;

(iv) three year old children living in the designated area (up to and if necessary above the planned place level and according to date of birth - older children ie. rising fives having priority);

(v) three year old children living outside the designated area according to date of birth - older children ie. rising fives having priority.

Governors are encouraged to seek the advice of their school's Education Officer in applying these criteria.

12. If a nursery serves a scattered rural area, or an urban area with several geographically distinct communities or catchment areas within it, it is permissible for the governors to set quotas for each individual area. These quotas may be varied from one academic year to the next to take account of population change. However, they must be set in advance for the whole of the year in question. In setting quotas, governors should seek the advice of their School's Education Officer

13. In normal circumstances the duration of each individual nursery session will be 2 ½ hours. It is the Council's view that the minimum entitlement of a child to nursery education is 12 ½ hours per week.

14. Any complaint about the operation of this admissions policy, for example in the case of a particular child who has been refused admission should be dealt with through the school's formal complaints procedure in the first instance.

15. Parents of children who are excluded from a nursery school or class have the right to make representations to the headteacher and, if necessary, to pursue a formal appeal with governors.

Page 29 PLANNED PLACES FOR THREE YEAR OLDS IN NURSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES

Why are planned places for three year olds necessary?

Most nursery schools and classes have a mixture of children aged 3 and 4. Under the national Early Years arrangements, while four year olds in nurseries are funded nationally, three year olds will continue to be funded by Local Education Authorities (LEA).

In December 1996 the Education Committee agreed that places for three year olds in nursery schools and classes should continue to be funded by the LEA. However, the Committee also agreed that the funding for three year olds should be regulated in future through a `planned places' mechanism. This would work by guaranteeing each nursery a certain level of funded places for three year olds each year. Beyond that level, nurseries would be expected to take in four year olds. This would ensure that the LEA's income from national early years grant would be maximised.

The Committee also agreed that priority for the 'three year old' planned places in nurseries should be given to children with special needs.

How have the planned place levels for individual nurseries been calculated?

The planned place for three-year olds in each nursery have been calculated in the following way:

- a base level of 15% of places for all nurseries, (excluding children with significant, severe or profound SEN in integrated nurseries);

- a supplementary allocation of 7% of places for nurseries in Oxford City and Banbury to recognise the higher levels of social need in these two urban areas.

The planned place levels for each nursery are set out on the spreadsheets attached. Also set out on the spreadsheets are the target levels for four year olds.

How will the new scheme operate?

The proposed level of three year old places will normally be regarded as a maximum figure. It should not be allowed to prevent the admission of four year olds from within or outside the designated area. If they wish, schools will be able to exceed the target number of four year olds without seeking prior approval.

The main circumstance in which a three year old has priority for a place over a four year old is if the three year old has special needs. In order to be considered for a place on special needs grounds, a child's request for admission should be supported by an education professional or by a professional working for another agency. The level of three and four year olds at each nursery will be monitored by the LEA. Schools are encouraged to ensure that all their nursery places are filled. They can do this either:

- by taking some four year olds in full-time rather than part-time. Schools can decide this at their own discretion; or

- by extending their designated area. Schools should only do this in consultation with their Education Officer;

- by exceeding the planned level of three year old places. If they feel that this is necessary, schools must discuss the matter with their Education Officer on a termly basis and, if necessary, agree a higher figure for three year olds for the coming term.

Schools are expected to work closely with other local providers, especially pre-school playgroups, over the admission of three-year olds.

Page 30 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE

OXFORDSHIRE EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE

First Early Years Development Plan for Oxfordshire for the period April 1998 to August 2001

June 1998 (Revised Version)

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. Overview

2. Assessment of need and admissions policy

3. Partnership and co-operation across sectors

4. Quality of provision

5. Oxfordshire's Early Years Development Partnership

6. Funding of providers

7. Equal opportunities

8. Special needs and Special Educational Needs

9. Information for Parents

10. Childcare and Early Years Provision

Page 31 11. Parent and Family Support

12. Provision of Education for Three-Year Olds

ANNEXES

1. Consultation procedures for approving new publicly funded early

years provision under the plan(including Early Years Units)

2. Four-Year Olds - Local Planning Projections

3. Oxfordshire Early Years Development Partnership - list of members

4. Early Years Providers to be included in Oxfordshire's Early Years

Development Plan

5. Three-Year Olds - Local Planning Projections

INTRODUCTION

At last, as a result of a change in government policy, we have the incentive to plan coherently for the development of early years services in Oxfordshire. We welcome the new emphasis on partnership and planning. It fits in well with the approach we have been following since the early 1990s.

The framework set out by the Government brings new opportunities, but important responsibilities as well. Together we must ensure that there is sufficient early years provision to meet the very clear entitlements that all four-year olds across the County and their families will now expect. These entitlements relate to both the quantity and quality of provision.

We make no secret of the fact that this first early years Plan has been produced in a some haste. We are however grateful for the local data and the policy advice provided by the County's five Divisional Early Years Liaison Panels. The main elements of the Plan have also been considered by the County's Early Years Sub-Committee. On the other hand, our Early Years Development Partnership is still in the process of being formed and will have met only once before the Plan is submitted to the Department for Education for approval.

We expect both the process and content of our Plan to improve in future years. For the time being, however, we can say that the experience of drawing it up has been positive and extremely worthwhile.

During the Summer of 1998, we will continue to refine the Plan, and we will then start to review it in the Autumn. During this period we would be pleased to receive comments from early years workers and from the general public on how both our Plan and early years provision in Oxfordshire can be developed further. Any comments received will be fed into the review process. Please send your comments to

Chief Education Officer Education Department Macclesfield House New Road Oxford OX1 1NA and mark them for the attention of Rick Harmes, Principal Education Officer.

Page 32 You can also make contact with us by the following means

telephone: 01865 810614

fax: 01865 810647

Please note also that as from September the full text of this plan as approved by the Department for Education and Employment can be accessed on the Internet on the County Council's web site: http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/.

1 OVERVIEW

(a) Period covered by the Plan

The plan covers mainly the period April 1998 to August 1999. The plan also looks ahead to developments over the following two-year period up to August 2001.

(b) Overview of the LEA's policy for education and childcare

In November 1996, the County's Early Years Sub-Committee adopted the following policy principles for Early Years provision:

quality of provision based on the needs of young children is paramount;

admission and funding arrangements should be fair across all sectors of pre-school provision and equality of opportunity should be promoted;

the arrangements for pre-school education should promote partnership with parents and between different providers within an overall mixed economy of provision;

the arrangements for pre-school education should continue to be based on strategic planning and on the careful assessment of needs and priorities across the county as a whole.

- ensure that all four year olds in the County have access to good quality, half-time early years education from September 1998 onwards

- to establish the County's Early Years Development Partnership as a cohesive and forceful body which can give a clear lead on early years issues

- to establish efficient administrative arrangements for dealing with all non-LEA providers included in the County's EYDP

- to establish effective arrangements for providing quality and special needs support to all non-LEA providers included in the County's EYDP

- to establish a system of providing comprehensive impartial information and guidance to parents about the range of early years provision available in the County

- to further consult all non-LEA providers on a proposal to introduce two levels of charge;

* a small standard charge per four-year old child to cover the unavoidable costs which the LEA 2

Page 33 ASSESSMENT OF NEED AND ADMISSIONS POLICY

(a) Four-year old children included in the first phase of the plan

For the County as a whole, the relevant figures are as follows:

Table 1

TERM RELEVANT ESTIMATED NO HTE PLACES DATES OF 4 YEAR OLDS AVAILABLE IN ALL SECTORS

Summer 1998 1/4/93 to 31/3/94 8140 9342

Autumn 1998 1/9/93 to 31/8/94 8130 9342

Spring 1999 1/1/94 to 31/12/94 8090 9342

Summer 1999 1/4/94 to 31/3/95 8010 9342

The data for numbers of children are based on the Office for National Statistics birth figures and population estimates 1991-1996. All figures are indicative and cannot be guaranteed accurate to the level of detail shown.

The data for the total number of half-time equivalent (hte) places available are based on surveys of providers which the County's five divisional Early Years Liaison Panels carried out in Autumn 1997.

(b) Local planning issues

The match between the projected number of four-year olds in each of the five District Council areas of the County and the actual provision available is set out in Annexes 1a to 1e. Each annex covers a District Council area. Each District Council area is in turn broken down into a number of local planing areas. There are twenty eight such areas identified in the Plan in total.

The local planning tables also break the available provision by broad sector area: LEA maintained, voluntary and private/independent.

In a few cases, the level of provision available in a local planning area far exceeds the resident child population. Such cases can usually be explained by high migration of children from other areas. As our database develops, we will be able to track these movements more precisely.

In other areas, the level of provision available indicates a shortfall of places in relation to the local child population. In these areas, the shortfall will be addressed either through the creation of new Early Years Units in primary schools or by encouraging early years providers in other sectors to apply for inclusion in the Plan.

Oxfordshire maintains 226 primary and infant first schools of which 51 have a nursery

Page 34 class attached. In addition, the County maintains 15 nursery schools, of which 7 are attached to primary or special schools. There are also 6 assessment nursery classes attached to special schools.

As far as primary school admissions are concerned, the County's policy is to allow all schools to admit young children as `rising fives' ie at the beginning of the term in which they become five. Rising fives have an entitlement to half-time education in a primary school or in a nursery school or class if one is available in the area. All schools have the discretion to admit rising fives full-time if they wish, provided they can meet the cost from their delegated budgets.

The County's 48 church aided primary schools are able, if they wish, to admit four year olds who are younger than rising five. However, for children younger than rising five, aided schools are funded at the marginal rather than the full unit of resource (see section 6).

Admissions to the County's mainstream nursery schools and classes are governed by a Countywide nursery admissions policy which headteachers and governors are asked to administer locally. Each nursery has a designated number of places per session, of which a certain number may be used for three year olds. A copy of the County's nursery admissions policy is attached with this Plan. Of the County's 66 mainstream nursery schools and classes, 9 offer integrated nursery provision to children with severe special educational needs, usually as a joint venture with a nearby special school.

The admission arrangements described in the four preceding paragraphs came into effect for the first time in September 1997. Another initiative introduced at the same time was the creation of new type of early years provision - the Early Years Unit.

Under a scheme approved by the Education Committee in March 1997, primary schools can apply to the LEA to create an early years unit within their existing premises. The scheme is intended to allow rapid expansion of good-quality early years provision for four year olds in primary schools. School applications need to meet the quality criteria laid down in the LEA's quality framework for the Early Years (see also section 4 of this plan) and to have clear community support. At the time of revising this Plan, 5 Early Years Units are already in operation and a further 8 are due to open in September 1998. The LEA's intention, with the agreement of the Early Years partnership, is to expand the EYU programme over the next few years (see short term objectives in Section 1c above). Copies of the County's EYU scheme are attached with this Plan.

(d) Historical pattern of admissions to LEA reception classes

The pattern of admissions for the past three years is as follows:

Table 2 4 Year Olds in Reception Classes academic term total 4 year estimated % of four year olds in primary total no. of year olds reception classes 4 years olds in the County

1. 1995/6 a. Autumn no data collected 8460 -

b. Spring 1206 8400 14%

c. Summer 2233 8430 26%

2. 1996/7 a. Autumn no data collected 8400 -

b. Spring 1102 8270 13%

c. Summer 1958 8180 24%

Page 35 3. 1997/8 a. Autumn data not collected separately 8100 -

b. Spring 1611 8130 20%

c. Summer data collected, not yet analysed 8140

The expected sharp increase in the number of four year olds in reception classes in the Spring term 1998 shows the effect of the new `all year round' rising five admission policy agreed by the Education Committee in December 1996. The policy was adopted in the light of the previous Government's decision to introduce vouchers for pre-school education in April 1997. The policy was agreed after careful consultations with a wide range of early years interests in the County, including providers in the private and voluntary sectors. The new policy was accompanied by the introduction of a Quality Framework for the Early Years. This framework laid down clear standards for all new and existing early years provision within the LEA.

(e) Effect of recent changes in admissions policy on the education of three year olds

It is likely that the new admissions policy will lead to higher numbers of three year olds being admitted to nursery schools and classes in the County. This is because quite a large umber of primary schools with nursery classes have taken advantage of the new admissions policy to admit rising fives into the main school and to lower the age range of the nursery class. We also assume that an increasing number of parents have been using their vouchers and their certificates of eligibility to allow their four year olds to remain in private and voluntary sector provision, rather than feeling under financial pressure to transfer them to `free' LEA nursery provision. We will be able to assess the impact of these policy changes for the first time after the first full early years count in April 1998.

(f) Denominational choice

The LEA has no specific arrangements for ensuring that there is denominational choice for four-year olds within its maintained provision.

Of the 226 primary, first and infant schools in the County, 48 (or 21%) are voluntary aided (34 Church of England and 14 Roman Catholic) and 83 (or 37%) are voluntary controlled.

(g) LEA policy on home-to-school transport for under fives

As a rule, the County Council does not provide free `home-to-school' transport for children who are below statutory school age, not even for rising fives who are attending LEA primary schools. The only exception to this rule is for children who are assessed as having severe special educational needs. This policy was reviewed and confirmed by the Education Committee in March 1997.

(h) `Hard to reach' groups

The LEA has well-developed arrangements for reaching out to young children from Travelling and Displaced families. This is done through the County's Advisory Service for the Education of Travellers (ASET). The Service has 23 staff including an Advisory Headteacher, 11 teachers and 8 Learning Support Assistants. It is funded mainly through Section 488 grant from the DfEE.

The estimated number of young traveller children in Oxfordshire in the 0-5 age range is between 220-250. Through liaison work with parents and families, ASET tries to ensure that as many as possible of this group attend nursery, pre-school or other under five provision.

Page 36 (i) Details of non-LEA providers included in the County's Early Years Development Plan

Annex two sets out a list of the 319 voluntary, private and independent sector providers included in the County's Early Years development plan in 1998/99. Attached with the plan is a copy of the County Council's consultation document, a copy of which was sent in December 1997 to all providers recognised by the DfEE under the national early years scheme. This was intended to notify non-LEA providers that they were going to be included in the County's EYDP and also make clear the conditions for inclusion in the Plan (see Section 4 of the document, especially page 11).

Both the LEA and the Early Years Partnership intend to include all recognised non-LEA providers in the Plan, provided they agree to sign to the undertakings set out in the consultation document.

(j) LEA role in co-ordinating admissions to all early years settings

The LEA will continue to co-ordinate admissions to primary reception classes and to maintain its existing guidelines for the admission of young children to nursery schools and classes and to early years units.

As regards other forms of early years provision, the LEA will work together with the Early Years Development Partnership to ensure that there are sufficient places for four-year olds to meet demand and that parents have reasonable scope for choice in deciding which early years setting their child attends.

(k) Cross-border flows of children

For the moment no attempt has been made to assess the effect of in-flows and out-flows of four year olds from the LEA.

However, we have started discussions with our eight neighbouring LEAs - Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Reading, Swindon, Warwickshire, West Berkshire and Wiltshire - with a view to sharing individual level data about extra-LEA children from April 1998 onwards.

If suitable arrangements can be agreed, we should be in a good position to assess cross-border flows of children very accurately for the second year of the Plan in 1999/2000.

3 PARTNERSHIP AND CO-OPERATION ACROSS SECTORS

In Oxfordshire there is a long tradition of working in partnership across all sectors in the Early Years field. This has already been highlighted in the policy statement in Section 1 of this plan. It is also a key scheme in the `Early Years Policy Principles' set out on pages 6-9 of the LEA's consultation document circulated in December 1997. Our intention is to use the new early years planning process both to deepen and to broaden the notion of partnership across all areas of early years work.

Examples of 'partnership in action' in Oxfordshire include the following:

- the long-standing work of our five Divisional Early Years Liaison Panels described in our 1993 and 1996 Section 19 Reviews of Childcare Services (copies enclosed with this Plan - see especially pages 12/13)

- the inter-agency early years training programmes organised by our Divisional Panels (West Oxfordshire brochure for Spring term 1998 enclosed as an example)

- the 'Right from the Start' newsletter published termly by the Education Department's Early Years Team, which also includes details of the County's early years inter-agency

Page 37 training programme (copy enclosed with this Plan)

- the fact that Oxfordshire has been successful in obtaining support for one of the first seven national Early Years Excellence Centres announced by Estelle Morris, MP, Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in December 1997. This is the ACE Centre in Chipping Norton.

In the first year of the Plan the Oxfordshire Early Years Partnership confirms that it intends to allow parents of four-year-olds in principle to have a free choice of provision across all types of recognised providers. This choice will of course be subject to the reasonable constraints imposed by distance, the physical capacity of buildings and the overall need to ensure that public monies are spent wisely.

During 1998/9, the Partnership will monitor carefully the operation of this approach in the light of:

- the take-up of places by parents - information gathered from local quality monitoring and from OFSTED inspections - the advice of the County Early Years Partnership and of Divisional Early Years Panels - developments in LEA admissions policy.

4 QUALITY OF PROVISION

(a) Commitment to quality

Maintaining and promoting quality is a key element in Oxfordshire's Early Years Plan. As a condition for inclusion in the Plan, County Early Years partnership will require all non-LEA settings to sign an undertaking which commits them to:

- working towards the Desirable Outcomes for the education of four-year-olds;

- receiving monitoring visits from the LEA's quality assurance staff and being inspected on a regular basis by a Registered Nursery Inspector

- being inspected on a regular basis by a Registered Nursery Inspector.

With regard to LEA early years settings, including primary reception classes, they are already expected to work to the 'Quality Framework for Early Years' which was approved by the Education Committee in March 1997 (copy enclosed - see also Section 2(e) above) and to organise their teaching accordingly.

(b) Training policy

There are already well-established arrangements in place to provide appropriate training for workers in all early years settings across the county. These are summarised in the County Council's 1996 'Spotlight' (Section 19) review (see pages 42/43 of copy attached) and some recent examples of Divisional and County early years training programmes are referred to in Section 3 above. It is intended that these arrangements will continue. In 1997/8 they will be funded largely out of the LEA's Standards Fund grant which amount to £79,800, with an equivalent contribution to be provided by the LEA.

As part of Oxfordshire's Plan, action will be taken to review the range of early years training provision that is available in the County - particularly that provided through the voluntary sector - through the County's existing Training Group. It has been agreed that this group should become a sub-group of the County's Early Years Partnership.

While recognising that existing providers access quality support services from a wide range of sources, including for example the fieldwork staff of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, the LEA, as part of the Oxfordshire Plan, will play a lead role in

Page 38 co-ordinating the provision of quality support to all early years settings.

For LEA schools and nurseries, the existing well-established arrangements through the LEA's Early Years Support Team will continue unchanged.

For the 319 non-LEA providers, there will be access to the following `basic' level of LEA quality support free of charge:

- access via a 'Quality Helpline' to the County's Early Years team in Oxford and to appropriate telephone advice

- access to all training events in the County and Divisional programmes, subject only to the normal minor charges (e.g. for refreshments and materials) paid by all participants

- termly invitation to attend the County's Early Years Forum and to attend local early years network meetings

- one monitoring visit per year from a member of the County's Early Years Team. This visit will be used to check for example whether providers have produced a suitable action plan following any recent OFSTED inspection.

In addition to the above, all non-LEA providers will have the option of buying additional consultancy services from the County's Early Years Team. However, providers which require support after a failed OFSTED inspection will be expected to buy into this service.

(d) Involvement of a qualified early years teacher in every setting

The Partnership recognises that there are a wide variety of approaches to ensuring the involvement of a qualified early years specialist teacher in all settings which are part of the County's Plan. The Partnership is also aware that this is to become a requirement of all Plans from September 1999 onwards.

In the period leading up to September 1999, the Partnership will adopt the following approaches:

- through the LEA's monitoring visits, carry out an audit of the professional qualifications and experience of all staff working in early years settings which are part of the Plan;

- promote a range of local approaches to meeting the qualified teacher requirement by encouraging collaboration between providers across different sectors.

In addition, in year one of the plan the LEA intends to introduce a pilot scheme to establish local Early Education Partnership Workers (EEPWs) in all 31 school partnership areas within the county.

The EEPWs in these areas will be qualified early years teachers and/or registered nursery inspectors. They will have experience of working across a range of different early years settings and experience of training adults. They will offer sustained support in all early years settings across the local school partnership area, including of course settings that are part in the private and voluntary sector. They will be managed by the County's Early Years Advisor and receive support from the Early Years Team. Their appointment will be by secondment and will last for one year or possibly for longer. They will receive suitable induction and training relevant to their role, and will form part of a wider network of advisory teachers within the LEA.

5 OXFORDSHIRE'S EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

Page 39 (a) Preparation of Oxfordshire's Early Years Development Plan

The preparation of the county's Plan was carried out in accordance with the following procedure:

STAGE 1 (July to November 1997)

- initial collection of data and discussion of policy principles within the County's five Divisional Early Years Liaison Panels;

- collation by county officers of divisional data and policy advice and preparation of key issues and consultation proposals for the county's Early Years Sub-Committee;

- 20 November - Sub-Committee considered key issues for the Plan and consultation proposals and authorised public consultations and establishment of County Early Years Partnership.

STAGE 2 (December 1997 to February 1998)

- consultation document finalised, published and widely distributed

- consultation period from Monday 8 December to Friday 16 January (included 10 open consultation meetings and one individual surgery session)

- County Early Years Partnership met for the first time on Monday 19 January and considered and agreed draft EYDP to recommend to the LEA

- County's Early Years Sub-Committee met on 5 February to approve final version of Plan for submission to Secretary of State

- EYDP submitted to Secretary of State in early February.

Many of the details of the consultation process are set out in the LEAs consultation document, a copy of which was sent to the DfEE's Under Fives Unit for comment in early January 1998. A further copy of the consultation document is attached with this Plan. Also attached are copies of the notices and minutes of the open consultation meetings and other relevant documents.

(b) Early Years Development Partnership

The Partnership met for the first time on 19 January 1998. The agenda and minutes of this meeting are attached. The County's Early Years Plan was discussed, amended and agreed for recommendation to the LEA;

Also attached at annex 2 is a list of the current Partnership members. The outline membership of the Partnership was agreed by the County Council's Early Years Sub-Committee on 20 November 1997. The work of the Partnership was also explained at all the January public consultation meetings.

As stated in the minutes of the first meeting, the Partnership:

- has been meeting monthly between January and July 1998 and will continue meeting half termly from September 1998;

- has now elected a chairperson and vice-chairperson for the 1998 calendar year;

- has considered extensions to its membership. The additional members now included are:

Page 40 * a representative of the Heart of England TEC * a representative of LEA school governors * a representative of Family Centres * one additional representative each of private sector providers and of

the Pre-School Learning Alliance;

- has enabled all parents of children aged 0 - 8 who have nominated themselves for membership of the Forum, to meet regularly as a group and decide for themselves which two members of the group will act as the representatives of parents on the Partnership. These parents have now formed a focus group which meets regularly to exchange information. This group also receives help to prepare a regular newsletter for distribution across the County on the work of the Partnership and the parents' role in it;

- has agreed that County Council officers will advise and support the Partnership, but will not be voting members of it.

These five inter-agency panels were established in the early 1990s and each one covers one of the County's five District Council areas. The Panels are jointly led by Education and Social Services and they contain representation from a wide range of early years interests including the voluntary sector and, more recently the private sector as well. Since 1992 they have prepared local early years development plans for their areas and these local plans have in turn contributed to the County's two Section 19 Reviews of Childcare Services published in 1993 and 1996. The Panels were directly involved in the collection of local data for this Early Years Development Plan liaising closely with providers in their areas. They also took a leading part in the recent countywide consultations on the Plan, hosting and servicing of each of the public meetings.

The LEA has been reviewing the future role and pattern of Forums, particularly in the light of the creation of the County's new Early Years Development Partnership. In February 1998, the Early Years Sub-Committee agreed to maintain the current pattern of Divisional panels for a further year and to review the position again early in 1999.

6 FUNDING OF PROVIDERS

(a) Funding of LEA nursery and primary schools

Under fives attending LEA nursery classes and primary reception classes are funded through the LEA's Local Management of Schools (LMS) scheme. Four year olds attending the five pilot Early Years Units currently in operation are funded centrally via the 'LEA initiatives' element of the LEA's non-delegated schools budget. This is a temporary measure until the EYU scheme becomes properly established.

In the absence of an LMS scheme for nursery schools, under fives attending the county's fifteen nursery schools are funded centrally by the LEA.

(b) Levels of funding per pupil in the LEA sector

In general, under fives in LEA provision are funded at a common rate based on the 'nursery unit of resource' within the county's LMS scheme. In 1998/9 this figure stands at £856 per year per half-time place. This is higher than for any other year group in the primary age range, and also than for years 7, 8 and 9 in the secondary age range.

The specific groups of pupils funded at the `nursery unit of resource' include:

Page 41 - three and four-year olds in nursery classes and in `attached' nursery schools

- four-year olds in designated Early Years Units in primary schools

- rising fives in primary school reception classes.

Four year olds in primary reception classes who are younger than rising five (ie. in the main, those admitted by voluntary aided schools) are funded through the county's LMS scheme at the 'marginal rate' of £75 per year per half-time place.

In 1998/9 three and four year olds attending the county's free-standing nursery schools are funded at an effective unit cost of £1,458 per year per half-time place. This higher figure is due to the favourable staffing ratios and higher-than-average premises costs of these particular schools.

In accordance with the DfEE's official guidance, four year olds in non-LEA settings will be funded at the rate of £1100 per year per half-time place.

In the light of the new national funding arrangements, the LEA has now reviewed its long-standing policy of offering voluntary sector providers which are part of the Plan free use of school and other LEA premises and nominal ground rent charges. Since April 1998 these providers have been charged a fair rent for the use of LEA land and premises, including, where appropriate, charges for use of energy and for the drawing up of new lease or rental agreements.

Because of the severe pressure on its Social Services budget in 1998/9, the County Council has now decided to end its long-standing grant and service level agreement with the County's Pre-School Learning Alliance.

(d) Funding of children that move between settings and local authority areas

It is the LEA's intention to fund all four-year olds within the scope of the Plan in whole-term periods.

Thus, all recognised providers included in the County's Plan will be expected to carry costs of new four year olds joining them mid-way through a term. To compensate for this, they will not be expected to pay back the 'unused' funding from four year olds who leave them during the course of a half-term.

For this purpose, the term dates will be based on these used by the LEA and its schools. All non-LEA providers will be asked to have regard to these when deciding the pattern of their opening and holiday times.

(e) Payment arrangements for non-LEA providers

In principle, the LEA will make one payment towards the middle of each term to all non-LEA providers which are part of the Plan. This will be based on the total number of four-year olds recorded earlier in the same term. The payment will be made within fifteen days of the provider making a satisfactory headcount return. The payment will also include any adjustments arising from previous terms' headcounts.

For the first term of the Plan, as well as for new providers accepted into the Plan at a later stage, the LEA will make a first payment based on the estimated number of four-year olds given by the provider. Any over-payment or under-payment resulting from a discrepancy between estimated and actual numbers will be adjusted automatically with the next term's payment.

Page 42 As a condition for inclusion in the county's plan, all non-LEA providers will be required to sign an undertaking committing themselves to:

- providing data and financial returns within the timescales set by the LEA;

- not charging extra fees for the core element of early years education which is being subsidised from public funds (i.e. two-and-a-half hours per day, five days a week, 33 weeks a year);

- making at least one `core' educational place available each term under the terms set out in the DfEE's official guidance of January 1998.

(f) Audit arrangements

The LEA intends to collect personalised data on four year olds from providers which are part of the Plan. It will do this on a once-termly basis, in September, January and April/May.

By collating personalised data from all providers, the LEA will be able to check for instances of double counting. Where double counting occurs, the LEA will make financial adjustments in line with the guidance set out in the DFEE's document entitled `Early Years Development Partnerships and Plans - Requirements of Grant'.

All providers which are part of the Plan will be expected to ask parents to complete a declaration when they register a four-year old child under the scheme stating whether:

- their child is attending other early years provision at other times of the week and, if so, for how many sessions each week; and

- which sessions at which provider are to be regarded as the child's five core

sessions under the national scheme.

As part of their termly data return providers will be expected to pass on to the LEA full details of all such children.

In addition to this standard termly data check, LEA administrative staff will make regular visits to non-LEA providers both to provide support and to advise on the appropriate procedures and financial controls. The District Audit Service will also carry out occasional spot checks on all providers included in the plan in order to ascertain that proper financial controls are in place.

7 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Equal opportunities are a fundamental principle of the county's Early Years Plan. The LEA's long-standing commitment to equal opportunities is set out both in the overall principles set out in Section 1 above and in the county's 1996 Spotlight (Section 19) Review (see especially pages 38-40 of the attached copy).

As a condition for being included in the Plan, all non-LEA providers will be asked to sign an undertaking committing themselves to ensuring equality of access and of opportunity to learn for all four year olds whatever their social background, gender, attainment, ethnicity, religion, special educational needs or competence in English.

8 SPECIAL NEEDS AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

(a) Children in need

Given their general commitment to promoting equal opportunities for all children (see previous section) the LEA and the Early Years Development Partnership will encourage

Page 43 all providers to ensure that children in need are both supported and integrated into all mainstream early years settings.

The term 'children in need' covers the whole spectrum of social, behavioural, medical, sensory and learning needs. The full definition is set out in Chapter 8 of the LEA's Children's Services Plan published in April 1997. A copy of this document is attached with the Plan.

(b) Meeting special educational needs

As a condition for inclusion in the Plan, all non-LEA providers will be expected to sign an undertaking committing themselves to:

- paying close regard to the Special Needs Code of Practice and the additional guidance provided by the Secretary of State in meeting young children's special needs

- receiving monitoring visits from the LEA's special needs support services.

With regard to identifying and assessing special educational needs, all non-LEA providers have received copies in the past few months of the LEA's Handbook of Guidance for pre-school provision (a copy of this document is attached with the Plan). Private and voluntary sector providers have also had access to recent countywide training in the use of the Handbook. This has been provided through the countywide training programme organised by the Education Department's Early Years Team.

As a general measure, the county's nursery admissions policy requires governors to give young children with special needs first priority for admissions to an LEA nursery setting. The county also maintains nine integrated nursery classes in which children with severe special educational needs are integrated and taught alongside their mainstream peers (see also Section 2c of the Plan above). Most of these integrated nurseries are jointly managed by primary and special schools. The LEA is currently reviewing all aspects of the practice at these integrated nurseries, with a view to developing greater consistency of practice countywide.

For young children in LEA settings, the LEA provides a range of support services. These are described in the enclosed information pack for parents and include:

- educational psychology service - sensory impairment service - physical disability support service - support for children with medical conditions.

These services work closely with a range of other agencies and seek as a matter of principle to be part of an integrated response to children's individual special needs.

For very young children and for children up to the age of five in non-LEA settings, the LEA provides support through its Pre-School Teacher Counselling Service. The members of this service work directly with individual children and families and with staff in non-LEA settings. The service is now increasingly involved in the Oxfordshire Family Nurturing Network. This joint venture with the Oxfordshire Community Health Trust provides intensive programmes of behaviour support and counselling for young children and their families.

(d) Providing equal access to special educational needs support countywide

With the inclusion of some 320 non-LEA providers in the county's EYDP, the LEA's special needs support services are expected to come under increasing pressure. For this reason, as with the issue of quality support described in Section 4 above, it is agreed that

Page 44 the LEA will offer to non-LEA providers two levels of special needs support for four-year olds.

A `basic' level of support will be offered as an entitlement to all non-LEA providers. This will include:

(a) telephone advisory service from a multi-disciplinary team

(b) access for staff to all County training on identifying, assessing and providing for young children's special educational needs

(c) direct assistance with statutory assessment procedures for young children with severe and complex special educational needs.

This in effect mirrors the service currently provided by LEA specialist staff.

In addition to this basic level of support, all non-LEA providers will be encouraged to buy into additional special needs and family support services for four-year olds. The details of these are currently under discussion and will be presented in due course to the Early Years Development Partnership.

Support for children aged 0-3 with severe and complex special educational needs will continue to be provided direct to families, on the same `entitlement' basis as now.

(e) Children with English as a second language

The LEA currently provides bilingual staffing support to certain primary and nursery settings where there are large concentrations of children whose first language is not English. These settings are all located in either Oxford City or Banbury. The extra staffing support is financed with the aid of Section 11 grant.

During the first year of the Plan, the County Early Years Partnership will assess the need for this support to be extended to young children in non-LEA settings. Appropriate proposals will then be made for Year 2 of the Plan, starting in September 1999.

9 INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

(a) Basic information for parents

In consultation with the County Partnership, the LEA will arrange for basic factual information about the new early years arrangements to be produced, published and distributed during February and March 1997. This information will take two forms:

- simple A4 flyer/notice giving outline details of the new scheme and telephone and other contact numbers - short A5 booklet (12-16 pages) explaining: * basic entitlements/details * the different types of provision available * how to go about choosing a place for a child * basic information on all providers included in the Plan * basic information on admission arrangements

This booklet will be modelled on a similar one produced nationally in 1997 for the pre-school voucher scheme (copy attached with this Plan).

During normal office hours the County's Education Department will also provide a telephone information service for parents and other enquirers. This will operate from the second half of the spring term onwards.

The basic printed information mentioned above will be widely circulated and made

Page 45 available in public buildings, libraries, schools, family centres, doctors' surgeries etc. It will also be distributed through local early years networks and via Oxfordshire's Children's Information Service. Discussions are taking place with the County's Library Service on how to raise awareness of the new arrangements amongst parents and within communities generally.

The basic printed information mentioned above will be produced in five ethnic language versions: Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. In due course it will also be produced in both Braille and audio cassette form.

The LEA and the Partnership fully accept the need for this basic information to be straightforward and factual, and to avoid bias towards any one sector of provision.

(b) Advice to parents

The LEA and the Partnership would like to establish an advice service for parents which is independent of any one particular sector of provision. The obvious location for this would be the County's Children's Information Service which is provided in Oxfordshire by the Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA). The OPA is represented on the County's Early Years Partnership. At the request of the LEA, the OPA has prepared a detailed strategy for providing an impartial early years guidance service to parents countywide. This, however, requires some expansion of the OPA's current role and it would need extra funding which is not available at the moment within the LEA. As part of the LEA's overall early years support package, it is proposed to encourage providers to buy into an early years information and guidance service to be provided on behalf of the County Partnership by the OPA's Children's Information Service.

In addition to the specialist service to be provided by the OPA, the LEA's training programme for early years workers will include a focus on the professional skills required to give parents impartial advice and guidance on the range of early years provision for their four-year olds.

10 CHILDCARE AND EARLY YEARS PROVISION

(a) Overview of childcare available in Oxfordshire

A comprehensive overview of childcare in the County is set out in the County Council's 1996 Spotlight (i.e. Section 19) Review, a copy of which is enclosed with this Plan.

The Spotlight survey was based on a needs analysis exercise which explored the needs both of parents (including those from ethnic communities) and of existing providers. The Spotlight survey also took into consideration feedback from local early years networks and from daycare professionals.

The County's Spotlight Review showed that in 1992 and 1995 the number of under eight childcare places available per sector across the County was as follows:

Table 3 Childcare Places for Under Eights in Oxfordshire

Childminding Holiday Day Out of Total Playschemes Nurseries School Clubs

1992 3680 - 852 50 4582

1995 8000 3130 2507 536 14173

Despite the apparently dramatic rise in places over the previous three years, the 1996 Review concluded that overall there was 'a lack of good-quality, affordable daycare,

Page 46 out-of-school and playscheme provision'.

As a result of the Review, the County Council confirmed its commitment to expanding and developing childcare provision of different types, working in partnership with the private and voluntary sectors. The County Council's commitment was set out in further detail in the local plans of the County's five Divisional Liaison Panels.

The above information is currently being updated for the Early Years Development Plan and will be available in due course.

(b) Maintaining, improving and expanding childcare provision

Over the past few years, the Local Authority has taken a number of steps to maintain and develop childcare provision.

Since 1990, the County's Childcare Co-ordinator who is based in the Chief Executive's Department has:

- provided an advice and consultancy service to existing and prospective childcare providers

- produced information packs and leaflets on aspects such as 'setting up a day nursery' and 'using school buildings'

- worked successfully to develop after-school care in partnership with the Oxfordshire Play Association.

The co-ordinator is now actively promoting efforts to develop more wrap-around childcare in schools. A County seminar on the issue took place in March 1998. Amongst other things, this seminar highlighted the successful practice already taking place in some of the County's existing centres of good practice, for example the ACE Centre in Chipping Norton and the East Street Centre in Grimsbury (Banbury).

As part of this process, the co-ordinator is leading a development group which is implementing a series of projects with funding amounting to £56,000 obtained under the National Childcare Development Scheme announced by the DfEE in December 1997. The County's bid focuses on three specific aspects of childcare development in 1998/99:

- creating a countywide support infrastructure for the development of childcare services;

- encouraging the development of 60 new childcare places linked to educational settings in at least five different schemes across the county;

- creating childminder networks focused around the County's 9 LEA integrated nursery schools and classes. The childminders in these networks will be trained to support children with severe special educational needs and their families.

11 PARENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT

The LEA and the County Early Years Partnership are keen to ensure that family support services are linked closely with early years provision for the under eights.

Parent and family support has two key aspects:

- professional support at various levels for families in need. The levels of intervention range from 'light touch' support for families who are experiencing temporary or minor difficulties to intensive support for families where there is serious abuse or risk of breakdown

Page 47 - professional support to enable parents and families to take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities and, particularly, opportunities to develop their parenting and professional skills. Such support can also show parents how to encourage their children's learning and so help to raise children's achievements within and outside of school.

With regard to support for families in need, this is currently provided in Oxfordshire by a number of different services, including family centres. Some of these are managed by social services, some by the voluntary sector and some by education. During the past 18 months, the County Council has carried out a major review of family centre provision in Oxfordshire and agreed an overall strategy for its development. This strategy is currently being implemented, but the implementation plan is currently having to be revised due to the fact that there have been further substantial reductions in the County's Social Services budget in 1998/99.

With regard to family support for lifelong learning, this is being developed through the LEA's community education service, for example, through family literacy projects financed by external grant and supported by the County's newly created parent education team, and by Youth Service projects aimed at teenage parents. The LEA is also an active partner in the Peers Early Education Project (PEEP) which, since 1995, has been operating at Peers School on the Blackbird Leys Estate on the south-eastern fringe of Oxford. This privately-funded literacy initiative is aimed at parents of children from birth to five. With LEA support, plans are being made to extend the PEEP approach to other parts of the county over the next two years. It is intended that this will be one of the main means for ensuring that the LEA meets its literacy target of at least 85% of eleven-year olds reaching National Curriculum level 4 or above in English by the year 2002.

In addition to the above, the LEA and the County Early Years Partnership accept that parents have a right to play a full part in the management of early years provision and to be involved in the co-ordination and development of policy. Where possible parents will be encouraged to join early years management groups and policy Forums. Currently two places on the County Early Years Partnership are specifically designated for parents. Twelve nominations were received for these two places and most of these nominees continue to be involved in a county parent support network which has been set up to monitor and influence the work of the Partnership.

12 PROVISION OF EDUCATION FOR THREE-YEAR OLDS

(a) The current position

At present the majority of three-year olds (ie around 90%) are educated in the non-LEA sector although this proportion may be changing as more three-year olds are admitted to LEA nursery schools and classes. Currently, the LEA funds the education of three year olds in nursery schools and classes at the `nursery unit of resource' (ie £856 per year per half-time place). Each nursery school and class has a planned maximum number of three year olds which is 15% of children in each session (22% in Oxford City and Banbury). Nurseries may only exceed their planned number with the agreement of the LEA, and this agreement has to be sought on a termly basis.

(b) Supply and demand of places for three year olds

As part of its data gathering for the Early Years Development Plan, the LEA has assessed the supply and demand of places for three year olds across the County. This is shown in broad terms in Annex C. The current position is that within officially recognised providers there is an estimated overall deficit of 38% of places countywide in 1998/99. The deficit is highest in Oxford City (54%) and lowest in West Oxfordshire (19%). This appears to be because of the relative lack of voluntary sector provision in Oxford City and the relatively high level of such provision in West Oxfordshire. These figures do not include provision which is not officially part of the County's Early Years Development Plan. The figures are also based on the assumption that a `place' is based on five half-day sessions a week. This level of provision may not always be

Page 48 appropriate for children of this age.

During the first year of the Plan, the County's Early Years Partnership will consider what targets are appropriate for expanding good quality early years provision for three-year olds across the County over a three year period.

Page 49 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE ANNEX 4 Early Years Providers included in Oxfordshire's Early Years Development Plan in 1998/99

EARLY YEARS PROVIDERS INCLUDED IN OXFORDSHIRE'S EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN 1998/99

1. CHERWELL DISTRICT

LEA Nursery, Primary and Special Schools

Adderbury, Christopher Rawlins Primary School Aynho Road, East Adderbury, Oxon OX17 3NH (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01295) 810497 Ambrosden, Five Acres Nursery School Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden, Bicester, Oxon OX6 OLN Tel: (01869) 253193 Ambrosden, Five Acres Primary School Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden, Bicester, Oxon OX6 0LN Tel: (01869) 253193 Banbury, Dashwood Primary School Marlborough Place, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8DA Tel: (01295) 263240 Banbury, Frank Wise Special School Woodgreen, Broughton Road, Banbury, Oxon (and Assessment Nursery Class) OX16 9QJ Tel: (01295) 263520 Banbury, Grimsbury St Leonard's Primary Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8SX School (and Integrated Nursery School) Tel: (01295) 262507 Banbury, Hardwick Primary School Ferriston, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7XE Tel: (01295) 258355 Banbury, Harriers Ground Primary School Bloxham Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9JW (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01295) 263067 Banbury, Hill View Primary School Hill View Crescent, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7DN Tel: (01295) 251205 Banbury, Neithrop Infant School Prescott Close, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0RD (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01295) 263324 Banbury, Queensway Primary School Queensway, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9NF (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01295) 251631 Banbury, St John's Primary School Avocet Way, Chatsworth Drive, Banbury, Oxon (and Early Years Unit) (Church Aided - RC) OX16 9YA Tel: (01295) 263740 Banbury, St Joseph's Primary School Fiennes Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0ET (and Early Years Unit) (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01295) 264284 Banbury, St Mary's Primary School Southam Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7EG (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01295) 263026 Banbury, The Grange Primary School Avocet Way, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9YA Tel: (01295) 257861 Banbury, William Morris Primary School Bretch Hill, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0UZ (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01295) 258224 Bicester, Bardwell Special School Hendon Place, Sunderland Drive, Bicester, (and Assessment Nursery Class) Oxon OX6 7RX Tel: (01869) 242182 Bicester, Brookside Primary School Bucknell Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 8DB (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01869) 252482 Bicester, Glory Farm Primary School Hendon Place, Sunderland Drive, Bicester, (and Nursery Class) Oxon OX6 7YJ Tel: (01869) 244050 Bicester, Kings Meadow Primary School Shakespeare Drive, Bicester, Oxon OX6

Page 50 8LU Tel: (01869) 323525 Bicester, Langford Village Primary School Peregrine Way, Bicester, Oxon OX6 OSX (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01869) 369021 Bicester, Longfields Primary School Longfields Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7QL Tel: (01869) 252386 Bicester, Longfields Nursery School Longfields Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7QL Tel: (01869) 252386 Bicester, St Edburg's Primary School Cemetery Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7BB (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01869) 252393 Bicester, St Mary's Primary School Queen's Avenue, Bicester, Oxon OX6 0NX (and Early Years Unit) (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01869) 252035 Bicester, Southwold Primary School Holm Way, Bicester, Oxon OX6 9UU (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01869) 324061 Bletchingdon Primary School Weston Road, Bletchingdon, Oxon OX5 0AH Tel: (01869) 350393 Bloxham Primary School Tadmarton Road, Bloxham, Oxon OX15 4HP Tel: (01295) 720224 Bodicote, Bishop Loveday Primary School White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4BN Tel: (01295) 263157 CharltonPrimary School Church View, CharltonOxon OX5 2UT Tel: (01865) 331239 Chesterton Primary School Alchester Road, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxon OX6 8UN Tel: (01869) 252498 Cropredy Primary School Station Road, Cropredy, Banbury, Oxon OX17 1PU Tel: (01295) 750210 Deddington Primary School Earls Lane, Deddington, Oxon OX15 0TJ (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01869) 338430 Finmere Primary School Mere Road, Finmere, Buckinghamshire MK18 4AR Tel: (01280) 848459 Fringford Primary School The Green, Fringford, Bicester, Oxon OX6 9DY Tel: (01869) 277397 Fritwell Primary School East Street, Fritwell, Bicester, Oxon OX6 9PX Tel: (01869) 345283 Hook Norton Primary School Sibford Road, Hook Norton, Banbury, (and Nursery Class) Oxon OX15 5JS Tel: (01608) 737379 Hornton Primary School Hornton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6BZ Tel: (01295) 670335 Islip, Dr South's Primary School Bletchingdon Road, Islip, Oxon OX5 2TQ (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 372323 Kidlington, Edward Feild Primary School Bicester Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2LG Tel: (01865) 372268 Kidlington, Edward Feild Nursery School Bicester Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2LG Tel: (01865) 372268 Kidlington, North Kidlington Primary School Benmead Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2DA Tel: (01865) 372607 Kidlington, St Thomas More Primary School Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1EA (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01865) 373674 Kidlington, West Kidlington Primary School Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1EA Tel: (01865) 373369 Kidlington, West Kidlington Nursery School Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1EA Tel: (01865) 373369 Launton Primary School Bicester Road, Launton, Bicester, Oxon OX6 (and Early Years Unit) 0DP Tel: (01869) 253692 North Newington, Bishop Carpenter Primary School Lane, North Newington, Banbury,

Page 51 Oxon School (Church Aided - CE) OX15 6AQ Tel: (01295) 730404 Sibford Gower Primary School Sibford Gower, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5RW Tel: (01295) 780270 Steeple Aston, Dr Radcliffe's Primary School Fir Lane, Steeple Aston, Oxon OX6 3SF (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01869) 340204 Wroxton Primary School Lampitts Green, Wroxton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6QS Tel: (01295) 730298 Yarnton, William Fletcher Primary School Rutten Lane, Yarnton, Oxon OX5 1LW (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01865) 372301

Grant Maintained

Shenington Primary School Shenington, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6LZ Tel: (01295) 670273

Independent Schools

St John's Priory School St John's Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8HX Tel: (01295) 259607

Private Nurseries

Banbury School Day Nursery Ruskin Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9HY Tel: (01295) 256400 Centre for Hardwick Under 5s & Families Hardwick CP School, Ferriston, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7XE Tel: (01295) 271841 Chestnut Nursery School 7 Chestnut Close, Launton, Bicester, Oxon OX6 0DE Tel: (01789) 243564 Courtyard Playgroup Launton Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7DJ Tel: (01869) 247184 Cygnet Nursery 45 Evenlode Close, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1RF Tel: (01865) 842006 Deddington Nursery School Windmill Centre, Hempton Rd, Deddington, Oxon OX15 0QH Tel: (01295) 721690 Fledglings Day Nursery 25 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0AE Tel: (01295) 259393 Fritwell Playgroup Fritwell Village Hall, Fewcott Road, Fritwell, Bicester, Oxon OX6 9QA Tel: (01869)346622 Greenacres Nursery School c/o Twenty Cricket Club, Ermont Way,

Banbury, Oxon OX16 7TJ Tel:(01295)263757 Kidlington Nursery Group Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1AB Tel: (01865) 373691 Kingsfield Nursery Bodicote Village Hall, Whitepost Road, Bodicote, Nr Banbury, Oxon OX15 4BN Tel: (0831) 517666 Mollington Playgroup Village Hall, Chestnut Rd, Mollington, Banbury, Oxon OX17 1BG Tel: (01295) 758489 North Oxfordshire College Children's Centre Broughton Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9QA Tel: (01295) 250687 Outset Day Nursery Keble Rd, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7TP Tel: (01869) 321301 Oxford Montessori Nursery, Bicester St Edburgs Church Hall, Old Place Yard,

Page 52 Bicester, Oxon OX6 7AU Tel: (01865)240150 Priory Day Nursery School Priory Road, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7BE Tel: (01869) 252753 Saltway Day Nursery Saltway House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Oxon OX15 4BN Tel: (01295) 273519 St Joseph's Nursery School St Joseph's Church Hall, Edmunds Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0PP Tel: (01295) 264422 Temple Close Nursery School Banbury Road, Bloxham, Oxon OX15 4PB Tel: (01295) 720416 The Ark Nursery Birds Lane, Epwell, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6LQ Tel: (01295) 780580 The Bear Necessities The Field Farm, Weston Park Farm, Weston-on-the-Green, Bicester, Oxon Tel: (01869)351118 The Children's House Montessori Nursery The Children's House Montessori, The Band Hall, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2DN Tel: (01865) 724826 The Close Nursery School 14 Prospect Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8HH Tel: (01295) 256726 The Horton Day Nursery Horton Hospital, Oxford Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9AL Tel: (01295) 229083 The Lower Heyford Nursery Market Square, Lower Heyford, Nr Bicester, Oxon OX6 3NY Tel: (01869) 340746 The Village Nursery, Shenington The Village Hall, Shenington, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6NH Tel: (01295) 788214 Tiddlywinks Playgroup Ploughly Road, Ambrosden, Bicester, Oxon OX6 0RH Tel: (01869) 256555

Voluntary Providers

Adderbury Pre-School Christopher Rawlins School, Aynho Road, Adderbury, Oxon OX17 3NH Tel: (01295) 810869 Ambrosden Village Playgroup Ambrosden Village Hall, Merton Road, Ambrosden, Nr Bicester OX6 0L Tel: (01869) 252722 Begbroke Playgroup Begbroke Village Hall, Begbroke Lane, Begbroke, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1RN Tel: (01865) 376303 Bloxham Pre-School Playgroup Tadmarton Road, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4HP Tel: (01295) 720224 Bodicote Playgroup Church House, Church Street, Bodicote, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4DW Tel: (01295) 277626 Broughton & North Newington Playgroup Broughton & N Newington Social Club, Broughton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6AA Tel: (01295) 263352 Bubbles Playgroup Southwold Community Centre, Holm Way, Bicester,

Page 53 Oxon OX6 9UU Tel: (01869)322015 Charlton-on-Otmoor Pre-School Church View, Charlton-on-Otmoor, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 2UT Tel: (01865) 331239 Chasewell Nursery Chasewell Community Centre, Avocet Way, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9YA Tel: (01295) 277834 Chesterton Playgroup Village Hall, Alchester Road, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxon OX6 8UGTel: (01869) 248056 Cropredy Playgroup Primary School, Station Road, Cropredy, Banbury, Oxon OX171PS Tel: (01295) 750662 Deddington Pre-School Hempton Road, Deddingham, Banbury, Oxon OX15 0QH Tel: (01869) 337383 Drayton Playgroup The Portacabin, Drayton Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0UD Tel: (01295) 270358 Easington Playgroup St Hughs Hall, Ruskin Road. Banbury, Oxon OX16 9HU Tel: (01295) 251351 Finmere Playgroup Newton Purcell Church Hall, Newton Purcell, Bucks MK18 4AX (No contact number) First & Second Step Pre-School Piggy Lane, Bicester, Oxon OX6 7HT Tel: (01869) 241000 Hardwick & Arden Playgroup Hardwick Community Centre, Ferriston, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7XA Tel: (01295) 271045 Hillview Pre-School The Bungalow, Hill View CP School, Banbury, Oxon OX16 7DN Tel: (01295) 250796 Islip Playgroup Dr South's School, Bletchington Road, Islip, Bicester, Oxon OX5 2TQ Tel: (01865)372323 Jack & Jill Playgroup & Toddler Group West Bicester Community Centre, Beaumont Square, Bicester, Oxon OX6 8GP Tel: (01869) 249119 Kidlington Pre-School The Methodist Church, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2BP Tel: (01865) 373958 Kirtlington Pre-School Village Hall, South Green, Kirtlington, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 5HJ (No contact number) Launton Playgroup Bicester Road, Launton, Bicester, Oxon OX6 0DP Tel: (01869) 320260 Neithrop Childcare Centre Neithrop School Site, Prescott Close, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0RD Tel: (01295) 261505 Peach Tree Playgroup School House, Hornton C P School, Hornton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 6BZ Tel: (01295) 670335 Robin Playgroup Blenheim Road Centre, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2HP Tel: (01865) 841460 Shelswell Playgroup The Old School House, Fringford, Bicester, Oxon OX6 9DT Tel: (0589) 919430 Sibford Playgroup Sibford Village Hall, Sibford Gower, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5RZ (No contact number) St Thomas More Playgroup St Thomas More RC Primary, Oxford Road,

Page 54 Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1EA Tel: (01865) 373674 Steeple Aston Pre-School Village Hall Fir Lane, Steeple Aston, Bicester, Oxon OX6 3SF Tel: (01869) 340863 The Village Playgroup, Kidlington Park Hill Recreation Ground, Benmead Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2DA Tel: (01865) 373489 Yarnton Playgroup William Fletcher School, Rutten Lane, Yarnton,

2. OXFORD CITY

LEA Nursery, Primary and Special Schools

Oxford, Bartlemas Nursery School 269 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 2AJ Tel: (01865) 245768 Oxford, Barton Village First School Fettiplace Road, Headington, Oxford (and Nursery Class) OX3 9LJ Tel: (01865) 761536 Oxford, Church Cowley St James First School Bartholomew Road, Oxford OX4 3QH (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 778484 Oxford, St Christopher's First School Temple Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2ET Tel: (01865) 779772 Oxford, Cutteslowe First School Wren Road, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7SK (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 558944 Oxford, East Oxford First School Union Street, Oxford OX4 1JP (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 240219 Oxford, Grandpont Nursery School Whitehouse Road, Oxford OX1 4QH Tel: (01865) 242900 Oxford, Headington Nursery School William Kimber Crescent, Headington, Oxford OX3 8LW Tel: (01865) 762345 Oxford, Headington Quarry First School Quarry School Place, Headington, Oxford OX3LH Tel: (01865) 761552 Oxford, Larkrise First School Boundary Brook Road, Oxford OX4 4AN (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 721476 Oxford, Mabel Prichard Special School St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4PN (and Assessment Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 777878 Oxford, New Hinksey First School Vicarage Road, Oxford OX1 4RQ

(and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 242169 Oxford, New Marston First School Copse Lane, Oxford OX3 0AY (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 761560 Oxford, Orchard Meadow First School Wesley Close, Oxford OX4 5BG (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 778609 Oxford, Ormerod Special School Waynflete Road, Headington, Oxford (and Assessment Nursery Class) OX3 8DD Tel: (01865) 744173 Oxford, Our Lady's First School Oxford Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LF (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01865) 779176 Oxford, Pegasus First School Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 5RG (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 777175 Oxford, Rose Hill First School The Oval, Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4SF (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 777937 Oxford, St Aloysius First School 143 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7PH (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01865) 515094 Oxford, St Andrew's First School London Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9ED Tel: (01865) 762396 Oxford, St Barnabas First School Hart Street, Oxford OX2 6BN (and Nursery Class) (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 557178 Oxford, St Ebbe's First School Whitehouse Road, Oxford OX1 4NA (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 248863

Page 55 Oxford, St Francis First School Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2QT

(and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 777408 Oxford, St John Fisher First School Sandy Lane West, Oxford OX4 5LD

(and Integrated Nursery Class) (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01865) 779676 Oxford, St Joseph's First School Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 7SX (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01865) 763357 Oxford, SS Mary & John First School Hertford Street, Oxford OX4 3AJ (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 248865 Oxford, St Michael's First School Marston Road, Oxford OX3 OEJ (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 241476 Oxford, SS Philip & James First School Leckford Place, Oxford OX2 6HX (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 557670 Oxford, Slade Nursery School Titup Hall Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 8QQ Tel: (01865) 750670 Oxford, Speedwell First School 17 Sandford Road, Littlemore, Oxford (and Nursery Class) OX4 4PU Tel: (01865) 777659 Oxford, Windale First School Windale Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford (and Nursery Class) OX4 5JD Tel: (01865) 777796 Oxford, Windmill First School Margaret Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 8NG Tel: (01865) 762509 Oxford, Wolvercote First School First Turn, Wolvercote, Oxford OX2 8AQ (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 558301 Oxford, Wood Farm First School Titup Hall Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 8QQ Tel: (01865) 762575

Independent Schools

The Squirrel School GPDST 90 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7ND Tel: (01865) 558279

Private Nursery Providers

3-5s Playgroup Oxford School, Glanville Road, Oxford OX4 2AU (No contact number) ABC Nursery 11 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7RG Tel: (01865) 439051 Balliol College Nursery 2A Rawlinson Road, Oxford OX2 6UE Tel: (01865) 515654 Hunsdon House Nursery School 12 Osler Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9BJ Tel: (01865) 62704 Julia Durbin Day Nursery Churchill Site, Old Road, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JU Tel: (01865) 744448 Kiddies Korner Headington Quarry Hall, Headington, Oxford OX3 8NX Tel: (01865) 66762 Kids Unlimited Bradmore Road Nursery, 4C Bradmore Road, Oxford OX2 6QW Tel: (01865) 284630 Mansion House Day Nursery Apsley Road, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7QZ Tel: (01865) 511237 Osney Day Nursery Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT Tel: (01865) 204891 Oxford Brookes University Nursery Oxford Brookes University, Headington

Page 56 Hill Hall ` Campus, London Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP Tel: (01865) 484940 Oxford College of Further Ed. Day Nursery Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 5HN Tel: (01865) 395696 Oxford College of Further Ed. Day Nursery Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1SA Tel: (01865) 269443 Oxford Montessori Nursery Wolvercote Village Hall, Wolvercote Green, Oxford OX2 8BD Tel: (01865) 240150 Oxford Montessori Nursery Headington Parish Hall, Dunstan Road, Oxford OX3 9BY Tel: (01865) 240150 Polstead Road Playgroup St Margaret's Institute, 30 Polstead Road, Oxford OX2 6TN Tel: (01865) 510560 Rover Rompers Rover Large Cars, Roman Way, Cowley, Oxford OX4 5NL Tel: (01865) 745900 Sandfield Day Nursery Sandfield Hospital, Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7RQ Tel: (01865) 744200 Squirrel Nursery Government Buildings, Marston Road, Marston, Oxford OX3 0TL Tel: (01865) 200847 St Anne's College Nursery 48-60 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HS Tel: (01865) 274868 St Clements Church Pre-School St Clements Family Centre, Cross Street, St Clements, Oxford OX4 1DA Tel: (01865) 246674 St Paul's Nursery, Somerville College 119A Walton St, Oxford OX2 6AH Tel: (01865) 270686 St Thomas Day Nursery 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford OX11JL Tel: (01865) 249800 Stepping Stones Nursery 55 Glanville Road, Oxford OX4 2DD Tel: (01865) 717139 The Beanstalk Nursery School United Reform Church Hall, Temple Road, Oxford OX4 2EZ Tel: (01865) 772310 The House at Pooh Corner Milham Ford Centre, Jack Straws Lane, Marston, Oxford OX3 0DF Tel: (01993) 775744 The Nursery 17 Lathbury Road, Oxford OX2 7AT Tel: (01865) 516636 The Oxford Montessori Nursery, Iffley Church Way, Iffley, Oxford OX4 4EG Tel: (01865) 240150 The Oxford Nursery Ltd Edmund Halley Road, The Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX9 4XW Tel: (01865) 396767 The Rookery Nursery Ruskin Hall, Dunstan Road, Old Headington, Oxford OX3 9BZ Tel: (01865) 742974 Turbo Teds Nursery Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HW Tel: (01865) 200967 Wolfson College Day Nursery Wolfson College, Linton Road, Oxford OX2 6UD Tel: (01865) 274071

Voluntary Providers

Cherry Tree Pre-School Headington Community Centre, Gladstone Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 8LL Tel: (01865) 69794 Donnington Playgroup Townsend Square, Freelands Road,

Page 57 Oxford OX4 4BB Tel: (01865) 791200 Foresters Community Playgroup c/o Woodfarm First School, Titup Hall Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 8QQ Tel: (01865) 750269 Mortimer Hall Playgroup Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford OX3 0PH Tel: (01865) 724188 New Marston Pre-School St Michael's School, Marston Road, Oxford OX3 0EJ Tel: (01865) 798320 Our Lady's School Playgroup Our Lady's School, Oxford Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LF Tel: (01865) 749629 Shepherd's Hill Playgroup The Dovecote, Nightingale Ave, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 5BU Tel: (01865) 779504 St Peter's Under 5s Group St Peter's Church Hall, First Turn, Wolvercote, Oxford OX2 8AQ Tel: (01865) 310135

3 SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT

LEA Nursery, Primary and Special Schools

Aston Rowant Primary School School Lane, Aston Rowant, Oxon OX9 5SU Tel: (01844) 351671 Beckley Primary School Church Street, Beckley, Oxon OX3 9UT Tel: (01865) 351416 Benson Infant School Westfield Road, Benson, Oxon OX10 1NG (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01491) 838517 Benson RAF Primary School RAF Benson, Oxon OX9 6EP (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01491) 836460 Berinsfield Primary School Wimblestraw Road, Berinsfield, Wallingford, Oxon (and Nursery Class) OX10 8LZ Tel: (01865) 340420 Blewbury Primary School Westbrook Street, Blewbury, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9QB Tel: (01235) 850411 Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Primary School Brightwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 OGH Tel: (01491) 837024 Chalgrove Primary School High Street, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7ST Tel: (01865) 890385 Checkendon Primary School Checkendon, Reading RG8 OSR (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01491) 680693 Chilton Primary School Downside AEA, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 OPQ Tel: (01235) 834263 Chinnor, Mill Lane Primary School Mill Lane, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4RF

(and Nursery Class) Tel: (01844) 352106 Chinnor, St Andrew's Primary School Station Road, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4PU Tel: (01844) 351353 Cholsey Primary School Church Road, Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9PP Tel: (01491) 651862 Clifton Hampden Primary School Clifton Hampden, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3EETel: (01865) 407700 Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School Old Reading Road, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8EN Tel: (01491) 836785 Didcot, All Saints Primary School Tamar Way, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7QH (and Nursery Class) (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01235) 819143 Didcot, Greenmere Primary School Mereland Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8BA (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 813304

Page 58 Didcot, Lydalls Integrated Nursery School Lydalls Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7HX Tel: (01235) 813137 Didcot, Northbourne Primary School Cockroft Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8LJ (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01235) 817744 Didcot, The Manor Primary School Lydalls Close, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7LB Tel: (01235) 812762 Didcot, Stephen Freeman Primary School Freeman Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7BZ Tel: (01235) 814718 Dorchester, St Birinus Primary School Queen Street, DorchesterWallingford, Oxon OX10 8HR Tel: (01865) 340081 East Hagbourne, Hagbourne Primary School Main Street, East Hagbourne, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9LR Tel: (01235) 813367 Ewelme Primary School Burrows Hill, Ewelme, Oxford OX10 6HU (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01491) 839240 Garsington Primary School Wheatley Road, Garsington, Oxford OX44 9EW Tel: (01865) 361263 Goring Primary School Wallingford Road, Goring, Reading RG8

(Church Aided - CE) OBG Tel: (01491) 872289 Great Milton Primary School Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7NT Tel: (01844) 279388 Harpsden Primary School Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 4HL Tel: (01491) 575405 Henley, Badgemore Primary School Hop Gardens, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 2HL Tel: (01491) 575665 Henley, Sacred Heart Primary School Greys Hill, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1SL (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01491) 572796 Henley, Trinity Primary School Vicarage Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1SE Tel: (01491) 575887 Henley, Valley Road Primary School Valley Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1RR (and Integrated Nursery Class) Tel: (01491) 573784 Horspath Primary School Horspath, Oxford OX33 1EY Tel: (01865) 872702 Kidmore End Primary School Chalkhouse Green Road, Kidmore End, Reading, (Church Aided - CE) Berks RG4 9AU Tel: (01734) 723149 Lewknor Primary School Lewknor, Oxford OX9 5TH Tel: (01844) 351542 Little Milton Primary School Stadhampton Road, Little Milton, Oxon OX44 7QD (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01844) 279310 Long Wittenham Primary School Main Street, Long Wittenham, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4QJ Tel: (01865) 407850 Marsh Baldon Primary School Marsh Baldon, Oxford OX44 9LJ Tel: (01865) 343249 Nettlebed Primary School High Street, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 5DA Tel: (01491) 641328 Peppard Primary School Church Lane, Peppard, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 5JU Tel: (01491) 628354 Sandhills Primary School Delbush Avenue, Headington, Oxford OX3 8EA Tel: (01865) 762586 Shiplake Primary School Memorial Avenue, Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames, (Church Aided - CE) Oxon RG9 4DN Tel: (01734) 402024

Page 59 Sonning Common Primary School Grove Road, Sonning Common, Reading, RG4 9RJ Tel: (01189) 722105 Sonning Common, Bishopswood Special School Bishopswood School Office, Sonning Common C (and Integrated Nursery Class) School, Grove Road, Sonning Common, Reading, Berks RG4 9BT Tel: (01189) 724311 South Moreton Primary School South Moreton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9AG Tel: (01235) 813110 South Stoke Primary School The Street, South Stoke, Reading, Berks RG8 OJS Tel: (01491) 872948 Stadhampton Primary School Cratlands Close, Stadhampton, Oxon OX44 7XL Tel: (01865) 890370 Stoke Row Primary School Stoke Row, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 5QS Tel: (01491) 680720 Tetsworth Primary School Tetsworth, Thame, Oxon OX9 7AB Tel: (01844) 281328 Thame, Barley Hill Primary School Ludsden Grove, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DH (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01844) 213100 Thame, John Hampden Nursery School Park Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3HU Tel: (01844) 260282 Thame, John Hampden Primary School Park Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3HU (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01844) 212291 Thame, St Joseph's Primary School Brook Lane, Thame, Oxon OX9 1AB (and Early Years Unit) (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01844) 214278 Wallingford, St John's Primary School St John's Road, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9AG Tel: (01491) 837305 Wallingford, St Nicholas Infant School St Nicholas Road, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 OLR (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01491) 836408 Warborough, St Laurence's Primary School Thame Road, Warborough, Oxon OX10 7DX (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 858270 Watlington Primary School Gorwell, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5QA Tel: (01491) 612474 Wheatley Primary School Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxon OX9 1NN Tel: (01865) 872366 Wheatley Nursery School Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxon OX9 1NN Tel: (01865) 872515 Wheatley, John Watson Special School Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxon OX33 1NN Tel: (01865) 872515 Whitchurch Primary School Eastfield Lane, Whitchurch, Reading, Berks RG8 7EJ Tel: (01734) 842347 Woodcote Primary School Reading Road, Woodcote, Reading, Berks RG8 OQY Tel: (01491) 680454

Independent Schools

Chiltern House School 30 Queen's Road, Thame, Oxon OX9 3NQ Tel: (01844) 212932 Cranford House School Moulsford, Nr Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9HT Tel: (01491) 651218 Rupert House School 90 Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon

Page 60 RG9 2BN Tel: (01491) 574263 St Mary's School 13 St Andrew's Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1HS Tel: (01491) 573118 The Oratory Preparatory School Goring Heath, Reading, Berks RG8 7SF Tel: (01189) 844511

Private Nursery Providers

Bramley's Day Nursery The Old Library, Mereland Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8BG Tel: (01235) 511998 Clifton Hampden Pre-School The Village Hall, High Street, Clifton Hampden, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3EE Tel: (01491) 832982 Early Days Nursery School The Old School, Ipsden, Oxon OX10 6AJ Tel: (01491) 681101 East Street Playgroup Baptist Church Hall, East Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3JS Tel: (01844) 213862 Ewelme Playgroup The Village School, Ewelme, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6QE Tel: (01491) 838337 Fairmile Day Nursery Fairmile Hospital, Reading Road, Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9HH Tel: (01491) 651281 First Steps Pre-School The Guide Headquarters, Southern Road,Thame, Oxon OX9 2ED Tel: (01844) 216774 Flint House Nursery Windmill Road, Towersey, Thame, Oxon OX9 3QH Tel: (01844) 217165 Great Haseley Nursery School Rectory Road, Great Haseley, Oxon OX44 7JP & Day Nursery Tel: (01844) 278769 Highmoor Nursery School Highmoor Memorial Hall, Highmoor, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 5DP Tel: (01491) 642162 Home Corner Nursery 52 Queen's Road, Thame, Oxon OX9 3NQ Tel: (01844) 214301 Jack and Jill Playgroup Christchurch Lower Hall, Christchurch, Thame, Oxon OX9 1OW Tel: (01844) 217268 Kingfisher Kindergarten Dunsden Village Hall, Dunsden Green, Reading, Berks RG4 9QG Tel: (01734) 462770 Ladybird Playgroup Manor School, Lydalls Close, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7LB Tel: (01235) 511707 Lighthouse 1 The Village Hall, Cowpool Lane, Berrick Salome, Nr Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6JJ Tel: (01865) 891712 Lighthouse 2 Drayton St Leonard Village Hall, Ford Lane, Drayton St Leonard, Nr Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6AS Tel: (01865) 891922 Little Acorns Nursery School St Joseph's Church Hall, St Joseph's Church, Brook Lane, Thame, Oxon OX9 2AB Tel: (01844) 216546 Lord William's School Day Nursery Lord William's Upper School, Oxford

Page 61 Road, Thame, Oxon OX9 2AJ Tel: (01844) 260231 Mongewell Park Nursery School Reading Road, Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9HA Tel: (01491) 837764 Queensdown Nursery School 64 Queens Road, Thame, Oxon OX9 3NQ Tel: (01844) 213039 Railway Children Nursery School 47 Reading Road, Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9HW Tel: (01491) 652752 Scotlands Ash Day Nursery Main Street, West Hagbourne, Nr Didcot, Oxon OX11 0NA Tel: (01235) 851423 Stepping Stones Day Nursery Leichlingen Pavilion Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1BF Tel: (01491) 572093 Stepping Stones Pre-School Baptist Church Centre, Wantage Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0BS Tel: (01235) 813187 The Busy Bees Playgroup Thame Cricket Club, Cricket Pavilion, Church Road, Thame, Oxon OX9 3AJ Tel: (01844) 217799 The Ladybirds Pre-School The Old School Rooms, Sydenham, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4LY Tel: (0378) 317429 The Montessori Nursery School The Village Hall, Bakers Piece, Kingston Blount, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4SW Tel: (01844) 352964 The Montessori Nursery School The Vicarage Hall, Pyrton, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5AW Tel: (01844) 352964 The Orchard Kindergarten 14 Orchard Ave, Sonning Common, Reading, Berks RG4 9LT Tel: (01734) 724027 Treetops Day Nursery School Paradise Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1TY Tel: 01491 413336 Two Trees Home Nursery Lowfield House, Churchfield Lane, Benson, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6SH Tel: (01491) 835698 Upstarts Private Day Nursery 30 High Street, The Annexe, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7SR Tel: (01865) 400535

Voluntary Providers

Allsorts Pre-School Brightwell Primary School, Greenmere, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0QH Tel: (01491) 826387 Badgemore Pre-School Badgemore School, Hop Gardens, Henley-on- Thames, Oxon RG9 2HL Tel: (01491) 578515 Benson Community Playgroup The Youth Hall, Oxford Road, Benson, Oxon OX10 6LX Tel: (01491) 824042 Cabin Pre-School Langtree School Grounds, Reading Road, Woodcote, Oxon RG8 0QY Tel: (01734) 478582 Checkendon Playgroup Village Hall, Checkendon, Nr Reading, Berks

Page 62 RG8 0TJ Tel: (01491) 681680 Cholsey Pre-School Lawrence Hall, Church Road, Cholsey, Oxon OX10 9PP Tel: (01491) 651485 Crowmarsh Pre-School Village Hall, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8ED Tel: (01491) 837302 Dorchester Playgroup Horsa Hut, St Birinus C of E School, Queen Street, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxon OX10 7HR Tel: (01865) 341164 East Hagbourne Playgroup Hagbourne Village Hall, Main Road, East Hagbourne, Oxon OX11 9LR Tel: (01235) 817940 Goring & Cleeve Pre-School Goring Primary School, Wallingford Road, Goring, Oxon RG8 0BG Tel: (01491) 875036 Hansel & Gretel Pre-School Portacabin, Stadhampton School, Cratlands Close, Stadhampton, Oxon OX44 7TS Tel: (01865) 890652 Happy Days Pre-School Nettlebed Village Club, 32 High St, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 5DA Tel: (01491) 641617 Horspath Pre-School Playgroup c/o Horspath Primary School, Church Road, Horspath, Oxon OX33 1RY Tel: (01865) 872702 Icknield Morning Playgroup Anne Brown Youth Centre, Icknield School, Love Lane, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5RB Tel: (01491) 612691 I-Spy Pre-School Nursery The Scout Hut, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 Tel: (01491) 579104 Jack & Jill Pre-School Rear of Mill Lane County Primary School, via White's Field, Mill Lane, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4RF Tel: (01844) 353630 Jan Weller Pre-School Playgroup The Holford Centre, Stanton St John, Oxon OX33 1HD Tel: (01865) 351215 John Hampden Playgroup John Hampden Hall, High Street, Chalgrove, Oxon Tel: (01865) 890030 Kidmore End Pre-School Parish Rooms, Wood Lane, Kidmore End, Reading, Berks RG4 9BB Tel: (01734) 724991 Krakatoa Pre-School c/o Lewknor CE School, Lewknor, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5TH (No contact number) Ladygrove Pre-School Playgroup Building, Loop Meadow, Ladygrove Estate, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7PS Tel: (01235) 810136 Little Owls Nursery The Pavilion, Great Milton Recreation Ground, Great Milton, Oxon OX44 7NF Tel: (01844) 278926 Long Wittenham Playgroup The Village Hall, High Street, Long Wittenham, Oxon OX14 4RH Tel: (01865) 407417 Meadows Pre-School Fleet Meadow Community Hall, Sandringham Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8TP Tel: (01235)

Page 63 512885 Meadows Pre-School Learning Alliance Fleet Meadow Community Hall, Sandringham Road, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8TP Tel: (01235) 511985 New Trinity Pre-School Trinity Primary School, Vicarage Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1SE Tel: (01491) 574742 Paddocks Pre-School Paddocks Road, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0LT Tel: (01491) 825333 Park Pre-School Playgroup 1A Queensway, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8LY Tel: (01235) 510394 Peachcroft Pre-School Community Centre, Lindsay Drive, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2RT Tel: (01235) 555808 Peppard Pre-School War Memorial Hall, Gallowstree Rd, Peppard, Oxon RG9 5JA Tel: (01491) 574227 RAF Benson Playgroup c/o Training Development Flight, RAF Benson, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 6AA Tel: (01491) 837766 Ext 7288 Rainbow Corner Day Nursery Icknield School, Love Lane, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5RB Tel: (01491) 613923 Rainbow Pre-School Bullcroft Recreation Rooms, High Street, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0BX Tel: (01491) 826209 Sacred Heart Pre-School Sacred Heart School, Greys Hill,Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1SL Tel: (01491) 572796 Sandhills Playgroup Sandhills Primary School, Delbush Avenue, Sandhills, Headington, Oxford OX3 8EA Tel: (01865) 62586 Shiplake Village Nursery Shiplake Memorial Hall, Memorial Ave, Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 4LA Tel: (01189) 40 4738 Sonning Common Pre-School Playgroup Grove Rd, Sonning Common, Oxon RG4 9RJ Tel: (01734) 724760 South Moreton Pre-School High St, South Moreton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9AG The Chapel Lane Playmates Pre-School Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7RF Tel: (01865) 891617 The Chinnor Village Nursery Greenacres, Oakley Rd, Chinnor, Oxon OX9 4HB Tel: (01844) 354207 The Magic Roundabout Pre-School Tetsworth Memorial Hall, Tetsworth, Nr Thame, Oxon OX9 7AB Tel: (01844) 281331 The Orchard The Annexe, Little Milton CE School, Stadhampton Road, Little Milton, Oxon OX44 7QD Tel: (01844) 279310 The Pavilion Playgroup Chalgrove Village Hall, Recreation Ground, Baronshurst Drive, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7TE Tel: (01865) 89162 The Warborough & Shillingford Playgroup St Lawrence Hall, Thame Road,

Page 64 Warborough, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 7DX Tel: (01865) 858168 Watlington Pre-School Pre-School Rooms, Watlington Methodist Church, Shirburn Street, Watlington, Oxon OX9 5BT Tel: (01491) 613553 Wheatley Playgroup Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxon OX33 1NW Tel: (01865) 873687 Whitchurch-on-Thames Pre-School Group Whitchurch CP School, Eastfield Lane, Whitchurch, Oxon RG8 7EJ Tel: (01189) 842347 Woodcote Pre-School Group Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, Reading, Berks RG8 0QX Tel: (01491) 682300

4 VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT

LEA Nursery, Primary and Special Schools

Abingdon, Caldecott Primary School Caldecott Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5HB (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 523132 Abingdon, Carswell Primary School Bostock Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1DP (and Early Years Unit) Tel: (01235) 521578 Abingdon, Dunmore Infant School Northcourt Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1NR (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 520543 Abingdon, The Kingfisher Special School (Radley Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3RR (and Assessment Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 523843(Blacknall Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5HE Tel: (01235) 555512 Abingdon, Long Furlong Primary School Boulter Drive, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1XP (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 532358 Abingdon, Rush Common Primary School Hendred Way, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2AW Tel: (01235) 533583 Abingdon, St Edmund's Primary School Radley Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3PP

(and Early Years Unit) (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01235) 521558 Abingdon, St Nicolas Primary School Boxhill Walk, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1HB Tel: (01235) 520456 Abingdon, Thameside Primary School Cotman Close, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5NL (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 527600 Abingdon, Thomas Reade Primary School Radley Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3RR

(and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 554795 Appleton Primary School Church Road, Appleton, Abingdon, Oxon OX1 35J (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 862794 Ashbury with Compton Beauchamp Primary Ashbury, Swindon, Wilts SN6 8LN School (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01793) 710259 Botley Primary School Elms Road, Botley, Oxford OX2 9JZ Tel: (01865) 248573 Botley, Elms Road Nursery School Elms Road, Botley, Oxford OX2 9JZ Tel: (01865) 243955 Buckland Primary School Buckland, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8RB Tel: (01367) 870236 Childrey, The Ridgeway Primary School West Street, Childrey, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9UL

Page 65 Tel: (01235) 751254 Culham Primary School High Street, Culham, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4NB Tel: (01235) 521766 Cumnor Primary School Oxford Road, Cumnor, Oxford OX2 9PQ Tel: (01865) 862337 Drayton Primary School Hilliat Fields, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4JF Tel: (01235) 531316 Dry Sandford Primary School Lashford Lane, Dry Sandford, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6EE Tel: (01865) 730432 East Challow Primary School Sarajac Avenue, East Challow, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9RY Tel: (01235) 763858 East Hanney Primary School East Hanney, Wantage, Oxon OX12 OJN Tel: (01235) 868232 East Hendred, St Amand's Primary School St Mary's Road, East Hendred, Wantage, Oxon (Church Aided - RC) OX12 8LF Tel: (01235) 833342 East Hendred, The Hendreds Primary School Ford Lane, East Hendred, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8JX Tel: (01235) 833379 Faringdon Infant School Lechlade Road, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8AH (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01367) 240655 Grove Primary School North Drive, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7PW Tel: (01235) 763745 Grove, Millbrook Primary School School Lane, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7LB (and Integrated Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 764822 Harwell Nursery School Curie Avenue, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0PX Tel: (01235) 834227 Harwell Primary School The Styles, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon OX11 OLH Tel: (01235) 835337 Kennington, St Swithun's Primary School Grundy Crescent, Kennington, Oxford (and Integrated Nursery Class) OX1 5PS Tel: (01865) 739608 Longcot & Fernham Primary School Kings Lane, Longcot, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7SY Tel: (01793) 782381 Longworth Primary School Longworth, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5EU Tel: (01865) 820364 Marcham Primary School Morland Road, Marcham, Abingdon, Oxon (and Early Years Unit) OX13 6PY Tel: (01865) 391448 Milton Primary School School Lane, Milton Heights, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4DR Tel: (01235) 831368 North Hinksey Primary School North Hinksey Lane, Oxford OX2 OLZ Tel: (01865) 248626 Oxford, West Oxford Primary School Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford OX2 OBY (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 248862 Radley Primary School Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3QF Tel: (01235) 520814 Shellingford Primary School Church Street, Shellingford, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7QA Tel: (01367) 710301 Shrivenham Primary School 28 High Street, Shrivenham, Swindon, Wilts SN6 8AA Tel: (01793) 782406 Southmoor, John Blandy Primary School Laurel Drive, Southmoor, Abingdon, OX13 5DJ

Page 66 (and Part-time Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 820422 StanfordPrimary School High Street, StanfordFaringdon, Oxon (and Part-time Nursery Class) SN7 8LH Tel: (01367) 710474 Steventon, St Michael's Primary School The Causeway, Steventon, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6SQ Tel: (01235) 831298 Sunningwell Primary School Dark Lane, Sunningwell, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6KE Tel: (01865) 739378 Sutton Courtenay Primary School Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4DA (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 848333 Uffington Primary School Broad Street, Uffington, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7RA Tel: (01367) 820296 Wantage, Charlton Primary School Charlton Village, Wantage, OX12 7HG Tel: (01235) 762861 Wantage Infant School Church Street, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8BL Tel: (01235) 762396 Wantage Nursery School Church Street, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8BL Tel: (01235) 762396 Wantage Primary School Garston Lane, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7AQ Tel: (01235) 762451 Wantage, Fitzwaryn Special School Denchworth Road, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9ET (and Assessment Nursery Class) Tel: (01235) 764504 Wantage, Stockham Primary School Stockham Way, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9HL Tel: (01235) 764407 Watchfield Primary School North Street, Watchfield, Swindon, Wilts SN6 8SD Tel: (01793) 782623 Wootton Primary School Wootton Village, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5HP (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 735643

Independent Schools

Chandlings Manor (Cothill House School) Bagley Wood, Kennington, Oxford OX1 5ND Tel: (01865) 730771 Ferndale Preparatory School 5-7 Bromsgrove, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7JF Tel: (01367) 240618 Josca's Preparatory School Frilford Heath, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5NX Tel: (01865) 391570 Our Lady's Convent Junior School St John's Rd, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2HB Tel: (01235) 523147 Ridgeway Pre-School Inverary Road, Wroughton, Swindon, Wilts SN4 9DL (No contact number) St Andrew's School Wallingford Street, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8AZ Tel: (01235) 762345 The Manor School Faringdon Road, Shippon, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6LN Tel: (01235) 523789

Private Nursery Providers

Abingdon College Day Nursery Abingdon College, Northcourt Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1NN Tel: (01235) 550809 Abingdon Kindergarten 45 Northcourt Rd, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1PJ Tel: (01235) 528910

Page 67 Abingdon Kindergarten 68 Marcham Rd, Cothill, Nr Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6QL Tel: (01865) 390669 Abingdon Kindergarten 43 Loyd Close, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1XR Tel: (01235) 528910 Aldfield Nursery Building 398, Marie Curie Avenue, Harwell Atomic Site, Harwell, Oxon OX11 ORA Tel: (01235) 432146 Bramley Ardington School School Road, Ardington, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8PN Tel: (01235) 833325 Chameleons 41A High Street, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4UA Tel: (01235) 848138 Grove Nursery School The Methodist Church, Main Street, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7JY Tel: (01235) 762715 Hobby Horse Nursery Bullocks Farm, Netherton, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5LS Tel: (01865) 390217 Holmwood Pre-School Holmwood, Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5DL Tel: (01865) 739584 Little Stars Nursery Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0QX Tel: (01235) 446828 Marcham Playgroup Church Institute, North Street, Marcham, Oxon OX13 6NG Tel: (01865) 391147 Milton Park Child Development Centre Unit 105, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RZ Tel: (01235) 821393 Oakley Court Nursery Southampton Street, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7AD Tel: (01367) 24031 Pinocchio House Nursery School The Village Hall, Kingston Lisle, Nr Wantage, Oxon OX12 9QL Tel: (01235) 751581 Red Dragon Pre-School Group Milton CE Primary School, School Lane, Milton Heights, Oxon OX14 4DR Tel: (01235) 831368 Rush Common Pre-School All Saints Methodist Church Hall, Appleford Drive, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2BT Tel: (01235) 530756 Seedlings Montessori Nursery School St John Vianney Parish Hall, Charlton Road, Wantage, Oxon OX12 Tel: (01235) 768562 Small World Nursery & Montessori School 89 Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, Oxon OX1 5NA Tel: (01865) 326660 The First Class Nursery 9 Butts Rd, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7PG Tel: (01367) 244771 The First Class Nursery School King's Lane, Longcot, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7SY Tel: (01367) 241078 Toddlercare Hadden Hill, North Moreton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9BJ Tel: (01235) 813202 Toddlecare The Old Bakehouse, 1 Thame Lane, Culham, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3DS Tel: (01235) 525205

Page 68 Watchfield Kindergarten Watchfield Village Hall, Chapel Hill, Watchfield, Swindon, Wilts SN6 8TA Tel: (0585) 452163 White Horse Nursery 6/7 Church Street, Wantage, Oxon OX12 8BL Tel: (01235) 760213 White Horse Pre-School Uffington C of E School, Broad Street, Uffington, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7RA (No contact number)

Voluntary Providers

Appleton Playgroup Village Hall, Oaksmere, Appleton, Nr Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5JH Tel: (01865) 862107 Ashbury Pre-School Ashbury Primary School, Ashbury, Swindon, Wiltshire SN6 8LN Tel: (01793) 710259 Blewbury Pre-School The Old School House, Church Road, Blewbury, Didcot, Oxon OX11 9PY Tel: (01235) 851037 Botley Pre-School Playgroup Elms Rd, Botley, Oxford OX2 9JS Tel: (01865) 862782 Camel Pre-School The Guildry, St Mary's Convent, Denchworth Road, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9DJ Tel: (01235) 765861 Charlton Acorns Charlton C P School, Charlton Village Road, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7HG Tel: (01235) 764743 Childrey Playgroup Village Hall, Childrey, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9UU Tel: (01235) 751471 Culham Pre-School Behind Culham School, High Street, Culham, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4NB Tel: (01235) 526881 Cumnor Pre-School Nursery Oxford Road, Cumnor, Oxford OX2 9PQ Tel: (01865) 862937 Dalton Pre-School Nursery Block 104, Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6JB Tel: (01235) 543640 Drayton Pre-School Playgroup Drayton County Primary School, Hilliats Field, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4JF Tel: (01235) 531223 Dunmore Pre-School Association Austin Place, Farm Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1NA Tel: (01235) 203203 Faringdon Pre-School Canada Lane, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8AP Tel: (01367) 242801 Grove Pre-School Playgroup Village Hall, Main Street, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 0NP Tel: (01235) 767715 Grovelands Park Playgroup & Parent Toddler School Lane, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7LB Tel: (01235) 769863 Hadland Community Nursery The Community Hall, Hadland Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3YH Tel: (01235) 534039

Page 69 Hanney Playgroup Brookside, East Hanney, Wantage, Oxon OX12 0JL Tel: (01235) 820020 Hendreds Pre-School Snells Hall, Church Street, East Hendred, Oxon OX12 8LA Tel: (01235) 831555 Little Pippins Pre-School The Freeman Orchard, Gaveston Road, Harwell, Nr Didcot, Oxon OX11 0HP Tel: (01235) 821741 North Drive Pre-School c/o Old Mill Hall, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7PR Tel: (01235) 771948 Northcourt Pre-School Playgoup Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1NS Tel: (01235) 535436 Park Playgroup Carswell School Annexe, Conduit Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1DB Tel: (01235) 553715 Pinewood School Bourton, Nr Swindon, Wilts SN6 8HZ Tel: (01793) 782205 Radley Playgroup Bowyer Building, Radley C of E School, Church Road, Radley, Oxon OX14 3 Tel: (01235) 521780 Riverside Pre-School St John Ambulance Hall, Caldecott Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5EP Tel: (01235) 520433 Southmoor Pre-School Southmoor Village Hall, Southmoor, Oxon OX13 5BY Tel: (01865) 820001 Springfield Playgroup Wantage CP School, Garston Lane, Wantage, Oxon OX12 7AQ Tel: (01235) 767986 St Mary's Priory Nursery School St Mary's Priory, Fernham, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7PP Tel: (01307) 240133 St Nicholas Playgroup Boxhill Walk, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1HD Tel: (01235) 536061 Stanford-in-the-Vale Pre-School Playgroup The Village Hall, Hunters Field, Stanford-in-the-Vale, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8LR (No contact number) Steventon Pre-School Playgroup St Michael's Way, Steventon, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6SQ Tel: (01235) 820878 Sticky Fingers Playgroup Sunningwell C of E School, Dark Lane, Sunningwell, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 6RE Tel: (01865) 739378 Sutton Courtenay Pre-School Bradstocks Way, Sutton Primary, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4DA Tel: (01235) 848333 The Chestnut Trees Pre-School The Memorial Hall, Highworth Road, Shrivenham, Swindon, Wilts SN6 8BL Tel: (01793) 782925 The Cottage Nursery Royal Military College of Science, 25 Park Avenue, Shrivenham, Wilts SN6 8LA Tel: (01793) 783900 Wantage Playgroup The Ark, Portway, Wantage, Oxon OX12 9BU Tel: (01235) 764010 Windmill Nursery The Terrapin, East Challow Primary School,

Page 70 East Challow, Oxon OX12 9RY Tel: (01235) 769839/764807 Wootton & Dry Sandford Pre-School Community Centre, 1 Besselsleigh Road, Wootton, Boars Hill, Oxford Tel: (01865) 326093

5 WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT

LEA Nursery, Primary and Special Schools

Alvescot, St Peter's Infant School Alvescot, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2PU (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01993) 842535 Aston and Cote Primary School Cote Road, Aston, Bampton, Oxon, OX18 2DU Tel: (01993) 850435 Bampton Primary School Bowling Green Close, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2NT Tel: (01993) 850371 Bladon Primary School Park Street, Bladon, Oxford, OX20 1RW Tel: (01993) 811192 Brize Norton Primary School Station Road, Brize Norton, Oxon OX8 3PL Tel: (01993) 842488 Burford Primary School Priory Lane, Burford, Oxon OX8 4SG Tel: (01993) 822159 Carterton Primary School Burford Road, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3AD (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 842502 Carterton, Edith Moorhouse Primary School Lawton Avenue, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3HP (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 844015 Carterton, St Joseph's Primary School Lawton Avenue, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3JY (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01993) 841240 Carterton, The Gateway Primary School Netheravon Close, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3SF Tel: (01993) 842189 Cassington, St Peter's Primary School The Green, Cassington, Oxon OX8 1DN (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01865) 880443 Chadlington Primary School Church Road, Chadlington, Oxon OX7 3LY Tel: (01608) 676366 Charlbury Primary School Crawborough, Charlbury, Oxon OX7 3QP

Tel: (01608) 810354 Chipping Norton Nursery School Burford Road, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5DZ Tel: (01608) 644790 Chipping Norton, Holy Trinity Primary School 24 London Road, Chipping Norton, Oxon (Church Aided - RC) OX7 5AX Tel: (01608) 643487 Chipping Norton, St Mary's Primary School The Green, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5DH (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01608) 642673 Clanfield Primary School Clanfield, Oxford OX8 2SP Tel: (01367) 810257 Combe Primary School Church Walk, Combe, Oxfordshire OX8 8NQ Tel: (01993) 891644 Ducklington Primary School Aston Road, Ducklington, Witney, Oxon OX8 7US Tel: (01993) 703651 Enstone Primary School Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4LP Tel: (01608) 677268 Eynsham Primary School Beech Road, Eynsham, Oxon OX8 1JP

Page 71 (and Integrated Nursery Class) Tel: (01865) 881294 Finstock Primary School Finstock, Oxon OX7 3BN Tel: (01993) 868314 Freeland Primary School Parklands, Freeland, Witney, Oxon OX8 8HX Tel: (01993) 881707 Great Rollright Primary School Great Rollright, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5SA Tel: (01608) 737202 Great Tew Primary School Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4AL Tel: (01608) 683642 Hailey Primary School Hailey, Witney, Oxon OX8 5UB Tel: (01993) 703802 Kingham Primary School Kingham, Oxon OX7 6YD Tel: (01608) 658366 Langford, St Christopher's Primary School Langford, Lechlade, Gloucestershire GL7 3LA (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01367) 860318 Leafield Primary School The Green, Leafield, Oxon OX8 5NP Tel: (01993) 878273 Long Hanborough Infant School Main Road, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxon OX7 2BK Tel: (01993) 881933 Middle Barton Primary School 27 Church Lane, Middle Barton, Oxon OX5 4BX Tel: (01869) 340522 Minster Lovell, St Kenelm's Primary School Wenrisc Drive, Minster Lovell, Oxon OX8 5SP Tel: (01993) 775394 North Leigh Primary School Park Road, North Leigh, Witney, Oxon OX8 0RX Tel: (01993) 881525 ShiptonWychwood Primary Milton Road, ShiptonOxon School (and Nursery Class) OX7 6BD Tel: (01993) 830059 Standlake Primary School Standlake, Witney, Oxon OX8 7SQ Tel: (01865) 300454 Stanton Harcourt Primary School Stanton Harcourt, Witney, Oxon OX8 1RJ Tel: (01865) 881948 Stonesfield Primary School High Street, Stonesfield, Oxon OX8 8PU Tel: (01993) 891687 Tackley Primary School St John's Road, Tackley, Oxon OX5 3AP T el: (01869) 331327 Witney Primary School Hailey Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 5HL (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 702388 Witney, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Curbridge Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 7JZ (Church Aided - RC) Tel: (01993) 702480 Witney, Springfield Special School 9 Moorland Close, Witney, Oxon OX8 5LN (and Assessment Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 703963 Witney, Batt Primary School Corn Street, Witney, Oxon OX8 7EB (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01993) 702392 Witney, The Blake Primary School Cogges Hill Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 6LA

(Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01993) 702840 Witney, Queen's Dyke Primary School Burwell Farm Estate, Witney, Oxon OX8 7LP Tel: (01993) 704770 Witney, Tower Hill Primary School Moor Avenue, Witney, Oxon OX8 5LJ Tel: (01993) 702599 Witney, St Mary's Infant School Church Green, Witney, Oxon OX8 6AZ (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01993) 702387 Witney, West Witney Primary School Edington Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 5FZ (and Integrated Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 706249

Page 72 Woodstock Primary School Shipton Road, Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1LL (and Nursery Class) Tel: (01993) 812209 Wootton Primary School Wootton, Woodstock, Oxon OX7 5DH (Church Aided - CE) Tel: (01993) 811520

Independent Schools

Scott's House School Eynsham Park, Witney, Oxon OX8 6PP Tel: (01993) 883217 The King's School New Yatt Rd, Witney, Oxon OX8 6TA Tel: (01993) 778463 Windrush Valley School The Green, London Lane, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6AN Tel: (01993) 831793

Private Nursery Providers

Broadshires Pre-School The Old School, Broadwell, Lechlade, Glos GL7 3QS Tel: (01367) 252192

Ceewood Playgroup Ceewood Community Hall (Annexe), Fettiplace Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 5AN Tel: (01993) 775098 Community College Playgroup Community College, Upavon Way, Carterton, Oxon OX18 1BU Tel: (01993) 844071 Daffodil Day Nursery 204 Main Road, Long Hanborough, Oxon OX8 8LA Tel: (01993) 883451 Davenport Road Playgroup Methodist Hall, Davenport Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 5SH Tel: (01993) 776826 Farmhouse Nursery School 5 Church Green, Witney, Oxon OX8 6AZ Tel: (01993) 700797 Fuzzipegs Day Nursery Old London Road, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5XD Tel: (01608) 642002 Kiddington Kindergarten The Old School, Nether Kiddington, Nr Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1BT Tel: (01608) 677774 Kiddywinks Nursery The Former Clinic, Church Street, Charlbury, Oxon OX7 3PW Tel: (01608) 811828 Ladybirds Pre-School W I Hall, Brize Norton Rd, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3LQ (No contact number) Leafield Playgroup Playgroup Room, New Village Hall, Lower End, Leafield, Witney, Oxon OX8 5QH Tel: (01993) 878096/830364 Little Tinkers Day Nursery 191 Hastings Drive, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3TS Tel: (01993) 846396 Minster Lovell Playgroup Wenrisc Drive, Minster Lovell, Witney, Oxon OX8 5SP Tel: (01993) 775394 Scallywags Day Nursery 24 Taphouse Avenue, Witney, Oxon OX8 5JJ Tel: (01993) 702721 St Peter's Nursery School The Old School, Filkins, Lechlade, Glos GL7 3JJ

Page 73 Tel: (01367) 860594 The Kindergarten Unit 14, Thorney Leys Business Park, Witney, Oxon OX8 7GE Tel: (01993) 700123 The Town Nursery School Holy Trinity Church Hall, London Road, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5AX Tel: (01608) 645646 Tree Tops Nursery 56 Alvescot Road, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3JJ Tel: (01993) 843248 Westfield House Nursery School Bampton Road, Aston, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2BU (01993) 850758 Willow Cottage Kindergarten & Nursery Owls Leat Lower Road, Eynsham, Witney, Oxon OX8 1EH Tel: (01993) 883583 Willow Cottage Nursery Oxleys Farm, Cumnor Road, Farmoor, Oxon OX2 9NS Tel: (01865) 865206 Woodpecker Pre-School Well Hill Village Hall, Finstock, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 3BU Tel: (01993) 868103

Voluntary Providers

Acre End Pre-School Playgroup Back Lane, Eynsham, Witney, Oxon OX8 1QP Tel: (01865) 883320 Ascott-under-Wychwood Pre-School Tiddy Hall, Shipton Road, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6AN Tel: (01993) 831269 Aston & Cote Pre-School Cote Road, Aston, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2DU Tel: (01993) 850718 Bampton Playgroup c/o Bampton Primary School, Bowling Green Close, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2NJ Tel: (01993) 851574 Blackditch Bunnies Playgroup Memorial Hall, Blackditch, Stanton Harcourt, Witney, Oxon OX8 1SD (No contact number) Bright Start Pre-School Social Centre, Brownes Lane, Alvescot Road, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3JH Tel: (01993) 842489 Brize Norton Village Pre-School Elderbank Hall, Station Road, Brize Norton, Oxon OX18 3QA Tel: (01993) 844671 Broadhill Playgroup Hailey Road, Witney, Oxon OX8 5HL Tel: (01993) 705509 Burford Pre-School Tanners Lane, Burford, Oxon OX18 4NA Tel: (01993) 824031 Cassington Pre-School Playgroup St Peter C of E Primary School, The Green, Cassington, Witney, Oxon OX8 1DN Tel: (01865) 883183 Chadlington Playgroup Chadlington Primary, Church Road, Chadlington, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 3NJ Tel: (01608) 676241 Charlbury Playgroup Charlbury Children's Centre, The Old Grammar School,

Page 74 Park Street, Charlbury, Oxon OX7 3PS Tel: (01608) 811200 Cogges Under 5s Association Old Blakes School, Church Lane, Cogges, Witney, Oxon OX8 6LA Tel: (01993) 774594 Combe Pre-School Park Road, Combe, Witney, Oxon OX8 8NA Tel: (01993) 891771 Ducklington Pre-School Ducklington Village Hall, Standlake Road, Ducklington, Witney, Oxon OX8 7YH Tel: (01993) 776789 Enstone Playgroup c/o Diane Thewlis, 12 Litchfield Close, Enstone, Oxon OX7 4LB Tel: (01608) 678188 / 678747 Eynsham Pre-School Beech Road, Eynsham, Witney, Oxon OX8 1LJ Tel: (01865) 883893 Freeland Playgroup Village Hall, Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Witney, Oxon OX8 8AQ Tel: (01993) 882945 Great Tew Pre-School Great Tew School, The Green, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4BD Tel: (01608) 643438 Hailey Village Pre-School Hailey C of E Primary School, Middletown, Hailey, Witney, Oxon OX8 5UB Tel: (01993) 843856 Hook Norton Playgroup Off Osney Close, Queens Street, Hook Norton, Oxon OX15 5NW Tel: (01608) 730560 Little Oak Playgroup c/o Queens Dyke School, Burwell Drive, Witney, Oxon OX8 7LP Tel: (01993) 775940 Long Hanborough Nursery School The Pavilion, Roosevelt Road, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxon OX8 8JX Tel: (01993) 883178 Long Hanborough Playgroup The Manor School, Riley Close, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxon OX8 8BD Tel: (01993) 882608 Middle Barton Pre-School 29 Church Lane, Middle Barton, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 7BX Tel: (01869) 347968 Newland Pre-School Youth & Community Centre, Witan Way, Witney, Oxon OX8 6YA Tel: (01993) 772731 North Leigh Pre-School North Leigh Primary School, Park Road, North Leigh, Witney, Oxon OX8 6RX Tel: (01993) 881525 RAF Brize Norton Pre-School RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon OX18 3LX Tel: (01993) 897215 St Hugh of Lincoln Nursery School c/o Our Lady of Lourdes School, Curbridge Road, Witney, Oxon, OX8 7HR Tel: (01993) 706636 St John's Playgroup Burford Road, Carterton, Oxon OX18 1AJ Tel: (01993) 843131 Standlake Pre-School Playgroup Standlake Primary School, Church Road,

Page 75 Standlake, Oxon OX8 7SQ (No contact number) Stepping Stones Pre-School Baptist Chapel High Street, Bampton, Oxford OX18 2JW Tel: (01993) 851814 Stonesfield Pre-School Village Hall, Stonesfield, Oxon OX8 8PS Tel: (01993) 898328 Tackley Pre-School The Pre-School Portacabin, c/o Tackley C of E Primary School, 42 St. John's Road, Tackley, Oxon OX5 3AP Tel: (01869) 331447 Woodstock Playgroup Primary School Grounds, Shipton Road, Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1LL Tel: (01993) 812743 Wootton Pre-School Burditch Hall, Wootton Playing Fields, Wootton, Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1EH Tel: (01993) 812331

Page 76 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE Annex 2 Local Planning Projeections - 4 year olds

(Please scroll across to view all columns - scroll down for other districts)

ANNEX 2a 4 YEAR OLDS IN CHERWELL DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected Numbers of 4 year olds

a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total a. Summer 1998 b. Autumn 1998 c. Spring 1998 d. Summer 1998 Independent a.BANBURY and Bodicote 392 64 225 680 b.BICESTER TOWN and 331 69 80 480 Launton c.BICESTER RURAL 68 52 50 170 d. KIDLINGTON 122 64 77 263 e.NORTH CHERWELL 71 98 104 273 RURAL

TOTALS 986 347 536 1870 2120 2100 2040 2010 average 2068 estimated deficit = 198 hte places (-9.6%)

Annex 2b 4 YEAR OLDS IN OXFORD CITY DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected Numbers of 4 year olds

a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total a. Summer 1998 b. Autumn 1998 c. Spring 1998 d. Summer 1998 Independent a.COWLEY 188 32 2 222 b.EAST OXFORD 187 31 66 284 c.HEADINGTON 212 8 54 274 d.LITTLEMORE/ 315 8 31 354 BLACKBIRD LEYS e.MARSTON 91 18 - 109 f.NORTH OXFORD 140 19 260 419

TOTALS 1133 116 413 1662 1630 1590 1550 1520 average 1573 estimated surplus = 111 hte places (+7%)

Annex 2c 4 YEAR OLDS IN SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected Numbers of 4 year olds

a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total a. Summer 1998 b. Autumn 1998 c. Spring 1998 d. Summer 1998

Page 77 Independent a.DIDCOT 322 135 128 585 b.HENLEY 68 92 59 219 c.THAME 152 88 60 300 d.WALLINGFORD 126 93 102 321 e.WATLINGTON 37 104 54 195 f. WHEATLEY 86 62 5 153 g.WOODCOTE and 61 154 114 329 GORING

TOTALS 852 728 522 2102 1750 1760 1780 1770 average 1765 estimated surplus = 337 hte places (+19.%)

Annex 2D 4 YEAR OLDS IN VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected Numbers of 4 year olds

a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total a. Summer 1998 b. Autumn 1998 c. Spring 1998 d. Summer 1998 Independent a.ABINGDON 550 247 196 993 b.CUMNOR 185 36 66 287 c.FARINGDON 119 28 80 227 d.WANTAGE 211 177 68 456

TOTALS 1065 488 410 1963 1320 1340 1370 1390

average 1355 estimated surplus = 608 hte places (+45%)

Annex 2e 4 YEAR OLDS IN WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected Numbers of 4 year olds

a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total a. Summer 1998 b. Autumn 1998 c. Spring 1998 d. Summer 1998 Independent a.BURFORD 100 93 13 206 b.CARTERTON 168 23 16 207 c.CHIPPING NORTON 216 116 47 379 d.EYNSHAM 90 80 15 185 e.WITNEY 283 118 232 633 f.WOODSTOCK 109 63 - 172

TOTALS 966 493 323 1782 1320 1330 1360 1320 average 1333

Page 78 estimated deficit = 449 hte places (+34%)

Page 79 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE ANNEX 5 3 YEAR OLDS IN OXFORDSHIRE - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

(Please scroll across to view all columns - scroll down for other districts)

ANNEX 5a 3 YEAR OLDS IN CHERWELL DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected 4. Estimated Surplus/ Numbers of 3 year olds Deficit a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total in 1988/9 Independent

a.BANBURY 63 42 215 320 697 and Bodicote b.BICESTER TOWN 41 53 81 175 470 and Launton c.BICESTER 2 67 46 115 231 RURAL d.KIDLINGTON 10 81 88 179 219 e.NORTH 29 85 71 185 180 CHERWELL RURAL

TOTALS 145 328 501 974 1797 -46%

ANNEX 5b 3 YEAR OLDS IN OXFORD CITY - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected 4. Estimated Surplus/ Numbers of 3 year olds Deficit a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total in 1988/9 Independent

a.COWLEY 42 34 5 81 191

b.EAST OXFORD 83 43 66 192 355

c.HEADINGTON 57 48 50 155 293

d.LITTLEMORE/ 57 16 37 110 358 BLACKBIRD LEYS

e.MARSTON 42 30 - 72 159

f.NORTH OXFORD 47 25 178 250 180

Page 80 TOTALS 328 196 336 860 1536 -44%

ANNEX 5c 3 YEAR OLDS IN SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected 4. Estimated Surplus/ Numbers of 3 year olds Deficit a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total in 1988/9 Independent

a.DIDCOT 64 134 160 358 774 b.HENLEY 8 92 89 189 304 c.THAME 16 82 44 142 382 d.WALLINGFORD 12 82 106 200 217 e.WATLINGTON 0 109 54 163 196 f.WHEATLEY 8 77 5 90 224 g.WOODCOTE and 0 142 90 272 181 GORING

TOTALS 108 718 548 1374 1816 -46%

ANNEX 5d 3 YEAR OLDS IN VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected 4. Estimated Surplus/ Numbers of 3 year olds Deficit a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total in 1988/9 Independent

a.ABINGDON 81 258 100 439 981 b.CUMNOR 40 42 30 112 214 c.FARINGDON 5 116 52 173 366 d.WANTAGE 12 191 64 267 346

TOTALS 138 607 246 991 1907 -48%

ANNEX 5e 3 YEAR OLDS IN WEST OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT - LOCAL PLANNING PROJECTIONS, 1998/99

1. Planning Area 2. Total HTE Places Available 3. Total Projected 4. Estimated Surplus/ Numbers of 3 year olds Deficit

Page 81 a.LEA/GM b.Voluntary c.Private & d.Total in 1988/9 Independent

a.BURFORD 8 124 13 145 133 b.CARTERTON 15 102 24 141 214 c.CHIPPING 21 162 59 242 253 NORTON d.EYNSHAM 6 92 15 113 185 e.WITNEY 24 149 229 402 583 f.WOODSTOCK 7 57 - 126 175

TOTALS 81 748 340 1169 1443 -19%

Page 82 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE ANNEX 1 Consultation Procedures for Approving New Publicly-Funded Early Years Provision under the Council Plan

CONSULTATION PROCEDURES FOR APPROVING NEW PUBLICLY-FUNDED EARLY YEARS PROVISION UNDER THE COUNCIL PLAN

A. New Early Years Units in Primary Schools

1. In applying for approval to create an EYU, schools must be able to demonstrate that they have taken the following steps:

(a) fully considered the scheme guidelines and discussed the educational and quality aspects of their proposals and the overall need for new provision in the area with a member of the County's Advisory and Inspection Service and have gained broad support for moving ahead with further discussions;

(b) discussed their proposals with Governors and obtained their support;

(c) consulted with parents of children under five living in the school's designated area via open meetings and/or questionnaires and obtained evidence of their support;

(d) consulted with other primary schools in the school partnership and obtained evidence of support from those schools directly affected by the proposals;

(e) consulted with any pre-schools, private nurseries, day nurseries or other non-LEA providers directly affected by the proposals and, if possible, obtained their support;

(f) sent a completed proposal form to the Chief Education Officer with copies of all written responses attached.

2. As proposals are received, the Chief Education Officer will make arrangements for them:

(a) to be formally evaluated by the Education Department's Advisory and Inspection Service using the County's Quality Framework for Early Years, and by the Education Department's Premises Development Team and for the outcome of those evaluations to be recorded;

(b) to be discussed by the Early Years Divisional Liaison Panel for the area, which will comment on the overall need for the new provision and its likely impact on other pre-school providers locally;

(c) to be discussed by the County's Early Years Development Partnership which will consider all the evidence gathered and decide whether it is able to support the scheme;

(d) to be presented to the County's Early Years Sub-Committee for final decision. The Sub-Committee will consider all the evidence and the comments made by the Divisional Liaison Panel and by the Early Years Development Partnership. It will also assess the resource implications of the proposal. The Sub-Committee will look particularly closely at

Page 83 the quality assessment. Normally it will only approve a proposal if 13 out of the Education Department's 14 quality criteria are met at the time of decision or are expected to be met by the time the Unit opens. In all cases the criteria met must include those relating to staff training and experience and curriculum planning within the Unit. As a safeguard, the Sub-Committee may decide to approve EYU schemes on a time-limited basis in the first instance.

NB. proposals for new nursery schools and classes will normally only be dealt with under Stage 2 of the above procedure.

B. Early Years Provision in the Private, Voluntary and Independent Sectors

1. Provider notifies the Education Department's Early Years Section that it wishes to apply to be included in the Plan.

2. If appropriate, the provider obtains Social Services registration or provides evidence that registration has already taken place.

3. Arrangements are made for the provider to be inspected by OFSTED.

4. Provider discusses the educational and quality aspects of its proposals and the overall need for new provision in the area with a member of the Education Department's Advisory and Inspection Service and/or the Social Services Daycare Development Team.

5. Provider carries out market research in the local area (and, where appropriate, beyond) with parents of children under five and with other providers of early years education, including LEA schools. This may include consultation meetings or focus groups involving parents and representatives of local early years providers.

6. Provider submits a formal proposal to the Chief Education Officer for inclusion within the County's Early Years Development Plan.

7. The Chief Education Officer makes arrangements for the proposal to be considered by the Divisional Liaison Panel for the area. The Panel will comment on the overall need for the new provision and its likely impact on other pre-school providers locally. The provider or his/her representative may attend the panel meeting in order to present the proposal and to answer questions on it.

8. If appropriate, the proposal will be presented to the County's Early Years Development Partnership for final decision. The provider or his/her representative may attend the Partnership's meeting by agreement in order to answer questions on the proposal.

Page 84 Education Committee EARLY YEARS SUB-COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 1998 AGENDA ITEM EY08

DEVELOPING EARLY YEARS SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE ANNEX 3 OXFORDSHIRE EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP list of members (as at June 1998)

OXFORDSHIRE EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP list of members (as at June 1998)

A Local Authority (Education and Social Services)

1 Councillor Marjorie Evans (Conservative Early Years Spokesperson) 14 The Farthings, Marcham, Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 6QD Tel: 01865 391689 2 Councillor Margaret MacKenzie, (Labour Early Years Spokesperson) 3 Abbey Cottages, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4AF Tel: 01235 847341 3 Councillor Julie Mayhew-Archer, (Liberal Democrat Early Years Spokesperson) 4 The Chestnuts, Radley Road, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3YN Tel: 01235 521626 B Diocesan Authorities

4 Oxford Church of England Diocese - Rosemary Peacocke, Education Consultant and former HMI - Chair of the Partnership 55 St John's Street, Oxford, OX1 2LQ Tel: 01865 512041 Fax: 01865 554791 E-mail: [email protected] 5 Birmingham and Portsmouth Roman Catholic Dioceses - Arthur Graham, formerly Headteacher, Cardinal Newman Middle School, Oxford 195 Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7SU Tel: 01865 761920 C Schools Sector

6 Primary Schools with nursery classes - Pam May, Nursery teacher and teacher trainer, 1 Sunderland Avenue, Oxford, OX2 8DS Tel: 01865 556095 7 Nursery Schools - Carol Camping, Headteacher, Elms Road Nursery School, Elms Road, Botley, Oxford, OX2 9JZ Tel: 01865 243955 8 Oxfordshire Governors' Association - Richard Hart, 19 Whitehouse Road, Oxford, OX1 4PA Tel: 01865 248548 E-mail: [email protected] D Family Centres

9 Elaine Tilley, Centre Manager, Donnington Doorstep Family Centre, Townsend Square, Oxford Tel: 01865 727721 E Health Sector

10 Clare Burns,Community Paediatrician, John Radcliffe NHS Trust Ounstead Clinic, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LJ Tel: 01865 225040 and

Caro Fickling, Clinical Lead for Health Visitors, Oxfordshire Community Health Trust, Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1AG Tel: 01235 547204 F Parents of Children Under 8

11 Lindy Macnamee, The Barn House, St Mary Close, Chalgrove, Oxon, OX44 7TL Tel: 01865 890030 12 Karen Wilson, 21 Lymbrook Close, South Leigh, Witney, Oxon, OX8 6XL Tel: 01993 771346 G Voluntary Sector

13 Pre-School Learning Alliance - Lynn Cauldwell, Regional Executive Officer, Southern Regional Centre, Room 5, Watlington House, Watlington Street, Reading, RG1 4RJ Tel: 01189 594064 Fax: 01189 576153

Page 85 14 Pre-School Learning Alliance - vacant 15 Oxfordshire Childminding Association - Sara Ruane,13 Church Road, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxon Tel: 01993 882644 16 Children's Information Service - vacant 17 Special Needs Groups - Liz Brighouse, Director OCVA Pratten Building, New Road, Oxford Tel: 01865 251946 H Private and Independent Sectors

18 Private provider - David Smith, Proprietor, Cygnet Nursery, 45 Evenlode Crescent, Kidlington, Oxon, OX5 1RP Tel: 01865 842006 19 Private provider - Daniel Ardizzone, Oxfordshire Montessori Forum, 73 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1HR Tel: 01865 240150; e-mail [email protected] 20 Independent Schools - Sheila Hayward, Headmistress, Greycotes School 1 Bardwell Road, Oxford, OX2 6SU Tel: 01865 515647 Fax: 01865 510841 - Vice-Chair of the Partnership

I Employers

21 Adam King, Development Executive, Heart of England Training and Enterprise Council, 26/27 The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3YS Tel: 01235 553249

J Officers advising/supporting the Partnership (non-voting)

22 Rick Harmes, Principal Education Officer (Lifelong Learning), Oxfordshire County Council, Education Department, Macclesfield House, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1NA Tel: 01865 810626 Fax: 01865 810647- Lead Officer to the Partnership

23 Gillian Tee, Principal Education Officer (Services to Pupils), Oxfordshire County Council, Education Department, Macclesfield House, New Road, OX1 1NA Tel: 01865 815125 24 Julie Fisher, County Adviser for Early Years, Oxfordshire County Council, Cricket Road Centre, Cricket Road, Oxford, OX4 3DW Tel: 01865 718974 25 Mike Simm, Strategic Commissioning Officer, Oxfordshire County Council, Social Services Department, 134B Cowley Road, Oxford Tel: 01865 815812 26 Maureen Norton, Unit Manager - Daycare Development, Oxfordshire County Council, Social Services Department, Mountfield House, Wimblestraw Road, Berinsfield, Oxford, OX10 7LZ Tel: 01865 340687 27 Val Johnson, Policy Development Manager, Oxfordshire County Council, Chief Executive's Department, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND Tel: 01865 810816 - Clerk to the Partnership

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