Consultation Document Regarding Proposals to Lower the Admission Age of Ysgol Llandegfan As from 31 August 2020

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT REGARDING PROPOSALS TO LOWER THE ADMISSION AGE OF YSGOL LLANDEGFAN AS FROM 31 AUGUST 2020

Consultation period between 11 November 2019 and 20 December 2019. 10

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ON THE PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE AGE OF ADMISSION AT YSGOL LLANDEGFAN ON 31 AUGUST 2020.

Introduction

Following the receipt of a request from the Governing Body of Ysgol Llandegfan, the Authority is consulting on the proposal to lower the age of admission there to admit pupils part time from the September following their 3rd birthday; with effect from 31 August 2020.

At present, Ysgol Llandegfan admits pupils full time in the September following their 4th birthday. The school is one of 3 primary schools with this policy. The 37 other primary schools admit pupils part time following their 3rd birthday.

The change in the age range of a school is a “regulated alteration” in school reorganisation and is within the requirements of the School Organisation Code, 011/2018. This is a decision for the Executive Committee who are required to publish proposals on the change and to consider the responses.

Before proceeding with its proposals, the Authority will seek the views of all those with a likely interest in the proposal so that their views can be considered before a decision is made.

This consultation process will consist of:

• contacting and providing a copy of this consultation document to all interested, including the Authority as listed in Appendix 1.

• holding a drop in session for interested parties at the school on 21 November, 2019 between 4:45p.m. - 6:00p.m.

• making copies of the consultation document available at the school, at the relevant non-maintained locations and on Anglesey County Council’s website.

• submission of views from interested parties in writing [relevant form attached] to:

Mrs Meinir Hughes Senior Primary Manager Learning Service Anglesey County Council Council Offices Llangefni Anglesey LL77 7TW Or send an email to: [email protected]

All views must be received no later than midday on Friday, 20 December, 2019.

Background

If the proposal is implemented, Ysgol Llandegfan may well attract pupils who would have attended other schools in the area with existing provision for 3 year old children. In Ysgol Llandegfan’s case, the schools in the area are – Ysgol Biwmares, Ysgol y Borth, Ysgol Llanfairpwll, Ysgol Llangoed, Ysgol Pentraeth, Ysgol Llandegfan. The relevant details for the schools, including Ysgol Llandegfan are:

Details Ysgol Biwmaris Ysgol Ysgol Ysgol Llangoed Ysgol Ysgol Y Borth Llanfairpwll Pentraeth Llandegfan

Location YSGOL YSGOL Y BORTH YSGOL YSGOL YSGOL YSGOL BIWMARIS LLANFAIR PWLL LLANGOED PENTRAETH LLANDEGFAN

Category Community Community Community School Community Community Community School for pupils School for pupils for pupils aged 3 - School for pupils School for pupils School for pupils aged 3 - 11 aged 3 - 11 11 aged 3 - 11 aged 3 - 11 aged 4 - 11

Language Bilingual Bilingual Bilingual Bilingual Bilingual Bilingual

Capacity 143 199 322 98 120 145

Admission 20 19 46 14 15 0 number for part time pupils

Admission 20 28 46 14 17 20 number for full time pupils Number of 2019 - 9 2019 - 20 2019 - 31 2019 - 4 2019 - 12 2019 - 0 part time 2018 - 10 2018 - 30 2018 - 43 2018 - 6 2018 - 14 2018 - 0 pupils on roll 2017 - 8 2017 - 32 2017 - 39 2017 - 4 2017 - 12 2017 - 0 in September 2016 - 6 2016 - 31 2016 - 46 2016 - 8 2016 - 14 2016 - 0 2015 - 6 2015 - 30 2015 - 0 2015 - 14 2015 - 16 2015 - 0 2014 – 6 2014 – 32 2014 – 0 2014 – 14 2014 – 16 2014 – 0 2013 – 9 2013 – 28 2013 – 0 2013 – 9 2013 – 14 2013 – 0 2012 – 10 2012 – 29 2012 – 0 2012 – 9 2012 – 13 2012 – 0

Number of full 2019 - 38 2019 - 238 2019 - 311 2019 - 69 2019 - 103 2019 -164 time pupils on 2018 - 42 2018 - 220 2018 - 305 2018 - 68 2018 - 94 2018 - 158 roll in 2017 - 40 2017 - 230 2017 - 319 2017 - 79 2017 - 89 2017 - 152 September 2016 - 50 2016 - 201 2016 - 301 2016 - 80 2016 - 85 2016 - 143 2015 - 56 2015 - 185 2015 - 308 2015 - 81 2015 - 83 2015 - 141 2014 – 59 2014 – 186 2014 – 307 2014 – 82 2014 – 83 2014 – 139 2013 – 72 2013 – 177 2013 – 291 2013 – 74 2013 – 80 2013 – 139 2012 – 84 2012 – 183 2012 – 291 2012 – 78 2012 – 79 2012 – 133

Projection of 2020 - 41 2020 - 228 2020 - 294 2020 - 67 2020 - 100 2020 - 158 pupil number 2019 – 69 2019 – 267 2019 – 358 2019 – 74 2019 – 115 2019 – 164 total 2020 – 65 2020 – 267 2020 – 356 2020 – 73 2020 – 116 2020 – 153 2021 - 76 2021 - 255 2021 - 356 2021 - 65 2021 – 122 2021 - 152 2022 - 83 2022 - 259 2022 - 359 2022 - 60 2022 - 123 2022 - 145

Building B B B B B B condition

See below alternative considerations following discussions on the different options.

Alternatives Advantages Disadvantages • School organisation • School continues to fail to 1) Retain the stays as it is target pupils early. status quo • No need to consider re- • Linguistic development is structuring lower in the Welsh language. • Parents choose to send their children to neighbouring schools since there is an option at those schools for care from 8am onwards. • The school can respond • Space at the school – at 2) School nursery to the disadvantages present, it’s difficult to and both pre- noted above. foresee that there will be school • Pupils become part of space to do this. providers the school earlier. continue • There is no need to consider the situation of both pre-school providers. 3) School Nursery • Responds to the • Having to end the other and Mudiad disadvantages of provision on the school Meithrin alternative 1 and grounds. continue responds to the disadvantage of alternative 2. • The school has a strong string of linguistic development in the Welsh language from pre-school all through the school. 4) School Nursery • Responds to the • Having to end the other and Playgroup disadvantages of provision on the school continue alternative 1 and grounds. responds to the • Less provision in Welsh disadvantage of language and lower alternative 2. communication skills on admittance.

The school and Cylch Meithrin must operate within the Authority’s Language Policy. As a result, there would be no negative impact on Welsh language provision for these pupils since they would be taught in line with the Language Policy.

If the intention of admitting 3 year old pupils part time to the school was realised, the nursery pupils would be taught for ten hours a week within the school’s Foundation Phase structures

and the decision on how to realise this would depend on numbers. Ysgol Llandegfan would be the local provider for children from the September following their 3rd birthday from September 2020.

The school will make all efforts to continue with the early year’s voluntary provision arrangement for children up to the September following their 3rd birthday.

The voluntary provision would admit children once they are 2.5 years old. At present, both providers have 27 children under 4 years old, and are expecting another in January. The Cylch Meithrin and the Playgroup provide for pupils from Monday to Thursday and have a lunch club in order to ensure full care during these days if parents wish so.

If the proposal was realised, the new pupils would become part of the school. The Governing Body would be answerable to the Authority for standards and provision, and the pupils would be subject to all of the school’s policies and procedures.

The table below sets out Estyn’s judgements from its latest report on the school and voluntary provision.

Area Ysgol Cylch Llandegfan Llandegfan Meithrin Llandegfan Playgroup December 2015

Key Question 1: How good are the Good Good Good outcomes?

Standards: Good Good Good

Welfare: Good Good Good

Key Question 2: How good is the Good Good Good provision?

Learning experiences: Good Good Good

Teaching: Good Good Good

Care, support and guidance: Good Good Good

Learning environment: Good Good Good

Key Question 3: How good is the Good Good Good leadership and management?

Leadership: Good Good Good

Quality improvement: Good Good Good

Working in partnership: Good Good Good

Resource management: Good Good Good

The current performance of the Good Good Good school / Cylch

The school / Cylch’s prospects Good Good Good for improvement

The current headteacher is at post since September 2017.

Estyn noted in its report: The school’s current performance is good because: • most pupils make firm progress in their learning and their achievement is good • nearly all pupils achieve a high standard of bilingualism and are able to easily switch from one language to another when discussing their work • pupils apply their literacy and numeracy skills effectively across the curriculum • nearly all pupils behave well and show positive attitudes towards their work • it provides a wide and rich range of learning experiences to its pupils.

Prospects for improvement are good because: • the headteacher offers firm leadership and a clear strategic direction to the school • the headteacher has a clear vision based on ensuring high standards and wellbeing for pupils which has been successfully communicated to staff, pupils, parents and governors • staff work together as a team and promote an inclusive ethos for all pupils • the school has an accurate understanding of its strengths and areas for improvement • the school development plan includes detailed strategies to address what needs to be achieved in terms of raising standards • the Governing Body is knowledgeable, supportive and successfully holds the school to account for its performance • beneficial partnerships exist with parents, the local community and other establishments, which has a positive effect on pupils’ standards and wellbeing The Proposal

The proposal is to lower the age of admission at Ysgol Llandegfan to admit pupils on a part time basis from the September following their 3rd birthday with effect from August 2020 onwards.

At present, Cylch Meithrin Llandegfan and an English medium Playgroup provide early years education in the area from the beginning of the term following the 3rd birthday to the September following the 4th birthday. The Cylch Meithrin and the Playgroup meet on the school grounds. The Cylch Meithrin and the Playgroup meet daily from Monday to Thursday, with one provider offering care between 09:00 and 12:00 and the other between 13:00 and 14:30 and lunch provided.

There are currently 22 children that were 3 years old on 1 September 2019, but there is 1 additional child on the register to start during the year, and 5 children under 3 years old on 1 September 2019 attending pre-school care, but this figure is low since Llandegfan is known not to admit many of this age until they are three. This means that the school is unable to give a thorough presumption of the number who will be three by September 2020.

Pupils are admitted to Llandegfan full time in the September following their 4th birthday. In September 2019, there were 164 pupils in Ysgol Llandegfan and they are taught in 6 classes.

Class Age Number of pupils

1 Derbyn a Blwyddyn 34 1

2 Blwyddyn 2 24

3 Blwyddyn 3 28

4 Blwyddyn 4 25

5 Blwyddyn 5 22

6 Blwyddyn 6 29

All efforts will be made to ensure that the voluntary provision continues to prepare early years education to children up to the September following their 3rd birthday.

The voluntary provision would admit pupils once they are 2.5 years old.

In terms of finance, the school would receive additional funds through the Authority’s formula based on the number of additional part time pupils on roll at the school. This would fund any additional educational staff such as Foundation Phase assistants in line with statutory regulations.

The voluntary provision would continue to receive a contribution towards their maintenance costs. Providers would consider a Business Plan if the proposal was accepted.

Educational standards wouldn’t decrease and are expected to improve since the children would be taught by a qualified teacher under the direction of the school headteacher and answerable to the school’s Governing Body.

This would also ensure consistency and continuation in the provision, especially in terms of the Welsh language.

The Statutory Process

The consultation process is subject to the requirements of the School Organisation Code, 0011/2018.

Following the end of this consultation on 20 December 2019, the Authority will issue a report on the consultation which will be available on the Council’s website.

The report will be presented to the Executive Committee by the Authority officers on 17 February alongside their recommendation.

If continuing with the proposal is the recommendation and if it is accepted by the Executive Committee, a Statutory Notice will be issued and a 28 day objection period will begin. A report will be published on the views expressed to the Authority on the County Council’s website.

The report on the objections will then be presented to the Executive Committee on April 27 in order to reach a final decision.

Response Pro-forma

Attached to this consultation document is a response pro-forma to submit comments, including an opportunity for responders to note their wish to be notified when the report on the consultation is issued.

YMGYNGHORI YNGLŶN Â CHYNNIG I OSTWNG OED MYNEDIAD YSGOL LLANDEGFAN AR 31 AWST 2020

CONSULTATION REGARDING PROPOSALS TO LOWER THE ADMISSION AGE OF YSGOL LLANDEGFAN AS FROM 31 AUGUST 2020

Ffurflen Sylwadau / Feedback Form

Mae’r Cyngor Sir yn awyddus i glywed eich barn chi. Rhowch eich sylwadau inni ar y cynnig i ostwng oed mynediad Ysgol Llandegfan os gwelwch yn dda.

The County Council is keen to hear your opinion. Please send us your comments on the proposal to lower the age of admission at Ysgol Llandegfan

1. A ydych yn cytuno gyda’r cynnig?

1.Do you agree with the proposal?

2. A oes unrhyw faterion yr hoffech dynnu eich sylw atynt? 2. Are there any matters to which you wish to draw our attention?

3. Mae rhoi eich manylion isod yn ddewisol. 3. Entering your details below is optional.

Llofnod / Signature

Printiwch eich enw / Print your name

Cyfeiriad / Address

Swydd / Categori’r Ymatebydd (e.e. staff ysgol, rhiant, llywodraethwr, arall) Respondent’s Post / Category (e.g. staff member, parent, governor, other)

Côd Post / Postcode

Dyddiad / Date

Oni bai eich bod yn nodi’n wahanol, bydd eich sylwadau yn agored i’r cyhoedd fel rhan o gofnodion ffurfiol yr ymgynghoriad.

Unless otherwise noted, your comments will be open to the public as part of the official records of this consultation.

Dychwelwch unrhyw sylwadau at / Return any comments to:

Mrs Meinir Hughes Swyddog Addysg / Education Officer Adran Dysgu Gydol Oes / Lifelong Learning Department Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn / Isle of Anglesey County Council Swyddfeydd y Cyngor / Council Offices Llangefni Ynys Môn LL77 7TW

[email protected]

Mae croeso i chi anfon unrhyw sylwadau neu gwestiynau at Meinir Hughes hyd at 20/12/19

You are welcome to send any comments or questions to Meinir Hughes up to 20/12/19

Appendix 1

Copies of this consultation document has been provided to all interested, including the Authority as listed in Appendix 1.

• Parents (and where possible prospective parents) carers and guardians, and staff members of schools affected by the proposals; • in the case of proposals affecting secondary provision, parents of pupils attending primary schools from which pupils normally transfer to that secondary school; • the maintaining or proposed maintaining authority for any school likely to be affected by the proposals;

• any other local authority (including those in England, where appropriate) likely to be affected - including in the case of dedicated SEN provision any authority placing or likely to place pupils with SEN in it;

• the Church in Wales and Roman Catholic Diocesan Authority for the area in which any school likely to be affected is located;

• any other appropriate religious body for any school likely to be affected by the proposals;

• the governing body of any school which is the subject of the proposals;

• the governing body of other schools which the proposer consider are likely to be affected by the proposals;

• the Welsh Ministers*;

• Constituency and Regional Assembly Members (AMs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) representing the area served by/intended to be served by any school which is the subject of the proposals;

• Estyn;

• teaching and staff trade unions representing teachers and other staff at any school which is the subject of the proposals;

• the relevant Regional Education Consortium;

• the Police and Crime Commissioner for the area served by/intended to be served by any school which is the subject of the proposals;

• any community or town council for the area served by/ intended to be served by any school which is the subject of the proposals; • in the case of proposals affecting nursery provision any independent or voluntary providers who may be affected including Mudiad Meithrin;

• in the case of proposals affecting nursery provision, the Children and Young People’s Partnership and/or the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships where present; • in the case of proposals affecting SEN provision, any relevant health or third sector bodies with an interest; • in the case of proposals affecting secondary provision, any further education institutions serving the area of the school; and

• in the case of proposals affecting Welsh language provision, the Welsh Language Commissioner.