Consultation Document to change the lower age range of St David’s Church in Wales Voluntary Aided Primary School from 4 to 3 years, to include a nursery class . INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT The Governing Body of St David’s Church in Wales (CIW) Voluntary Aided (VA) Primary School was approached by the Management Committee of Colwinston Preschool to consider “amalgamating the current provision.” This would effectively mean that the current preschool would be closed and the age range of St David’s CIW VA School would be altered from 4 to 3 years, to include a nursery class . This change, if agreed, is anticipated to take effect from January 1 st 2015. Before moving forward with this proposal, the Governing Body are keen to ascertain the views of all those with a likely interest in the proposal, so that they can be taken into account before any decisions are made. Llansannor St David’s Llangan St Brides Y Bont Faen Wick & Marcross Llanfair Copies of this document will be shared on the School & Village Website & with: • Vale of Glamorgan Council • Bridgend Council • Llandaff Diocesan Authority • Governing bodies of local schools o Llangan Primary o Llanfair Primary o Llansannor VA Primary o St Brides Major VA Primary o Wick & Marcross VA Primary o Y Bont Faen Primary • parents carers and guardians of pupils at both St David’s CIW VA Primary & Colwinston Preschool, • staff members of both St David’s CIW VA Primary & Colwinston Preschool, • the Welsh Ministers; • Assembly Members (AMs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) o Vale of Glamorgan - Jane Hutt AM o Vale of Glamorgan Constituency - Alun Cairns MP o South Wales Central Andrew RT Davies AM • Estyn; • teaching and staff trade unions o ATL o GMB PAT o NASUWT o NAHT o NUT o PAT o UNISON • Central South Consortium; • the relevant Regional Transport Consortium; • the Police and Crime Commissioner • Colwinston community • Local Town Council & Community Councils: • the local Communities First Partnership • independent nursery providers o Abracadabra Playgroup, Cowbridge o Bizzi Day Nursery, Pontyclun; o Citytots Ltd, Culverhouse o Fun Foundations Day Nursery, Cowbridge o Kiddiwinks Day Nursery Pontyclun o St Aubin’s Nursery, Cowbridge o St Paul’s Day Nursery Pontyclun o St Illtyd’s Day Nursery , Llantwit Major o Wenvoe Playgroup o Wick Playgroup • the Children and Young People’s Partnership • the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships; Consultation will also occur with pupils in the school, facilitated by the elected School Council. EXPLANATION OF THE STATUTORY PROCESS The initial consultation process of 42 days begins on Monday 5th May and concludes on Monday 16th June 2014. During this period, Mrs Penny Snowden, Chair of Governors will accept any comments or proposals using the attached proforma: C/o St David’s CIW VA Primary, Colwinston, Nr.Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7NL. [email protected] An Open Day will be held at the school on Friday 9 th An Evening Meeting will be May at 2.30pm for any person wishing to view the site, held in the school hall on including the current room used by the Preschool and Wednesday 21 st May at 5pm to the proposed Foundation Phase classroom area. take any questions. Considering your views A consultation report issued within 13 weeks of the end of the consultation period Within 6 months, the Governing Body will determine whether to proceed with the proposal Statutory Notice If proposal is approved, a statutory notice is published providing a 28 day notice period for objections to be made Determination of proposal Within 28 days of the objection period The publication of an objection report & the Governing Body response. If there are objections the proposal will be referred to the local authority for determination. Proposals must be determined within 16 weeks of the end of the objection period Decision notification Following determination of proposals all interested parties will be informed and advised of the availability of the decision which will be published electronionically on the schools website. Implementation (Changes with effect from January 2015 at the earliest) You can submit your views in favour or against the proposal. This is formal consultation but responses received will not be treated as statutory objections which form part of the statutory notice period. If you wish to object, you will need to do so in writing during the statutory objection period following the publication of a statutory notice outlined above. BACKGROUND St David’s CIW VA Primary School is an English medium, rural village school, feeding the three parishes of Colwinston, Llysworney and Llandow. When considering this proposal, the Governing Body of St David’s has taken into account the following specific factors: The standard of nursery education and the sufficiency of accommodation and facilities offered, both in the classroom and outdoors, and the viability of any school that wishes to add nursery places; The Local Authority and Consortium currently classify St David’s as a category B school: A school with generally good performance, some examples of good practice, with a few areas requiring improvement. Local data and particularly national tests demonstrate that children achieve high standards. The most recent comprehensive 21 st Century Schools Buildings Conditions Survey in 2010 found that the school’s overall rating was B: satisfactory, with minor deterioration. St David’s was re-inspected by ESTYN on 23 rd April 2013 and this report can be viewed on the school website. Inspectors stated that: “The school provides stimulating learning experiences that match pupils’ needs well, including the more able. Teachers group key stage 2 pupils appropriately so that their skills develop at a pace that matches their needs very well…..The standards of teaching and assessment have improved across the school…Pupils report that they feel challenged and supported and enjoy their lessons.” • Recommendation 1: Improve pupils’ use of literacy, numeracy, information and communication technology and independent skills across the curriculum “This recommendation has been fully addressed. Teachers plan the development of skills well across the curriculum.” • Recommendation 2: Further promote the use of pupils’ Welsh oracy skills during the school day “This recommendation has been fully addressed. The school provides useful opportunities for pupils to practice and improve their spoken Welsh throughout the school day. Many pupils speak clearly to each other and to adults to communicate information in a wide range of contexts.” • Recommendation 3: Disseminate the best practices in teaching and assessment across the school “This recommendation has been largely addressed. Records show that the standards of teaching and assessment have improved across the school.” • Recommendation 4: Provide more challenging learning experiences for more able pupils “This recommendation has been fully addressed. The school provides stimulating learning experiences that match pupils’ needs well, including the more able. Teachers group key stage 2 pupils appropriately so that their skills develop at a pace that matches their needs very well.” • Recommendation 5: Further develop the role of governors as critical friends “This recommendation has been fully addressed. The governors are very familiar with all aspects of the work of the school. As a result of governors’ wider and more detailed knowledge of the work of the school, they fulfil their role as critical friends very effectively.” • Recommendation 6: Ensure the stability of the long-term leadership of the school “This recommendation has been fully addressed. The acting headteacher at the time of the last inspection was appointed to the permanent post in 2012. She provides the school with strong leadership and clear direction. A strong senior management team is now in place and provides effective devolved leadership.” Due to considerable under-capacity at St David’s, since September 2013, the Preschool has occupied a spare classroom within the school. They pay a minimal rent, due to their own falling roll. They share the significant outdoor space available, as well as other facilities, such as the school hall. Both the school and the preschool, also make use of the additional facilities available to the community at the Village Hall. St David’s Numbers of Pupils on Roll (NOR) (Without Nursery) 2009 2010 2011 2012 20 13 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Actual Projected using 5 year average of 17 additional pupils 164 159 154 144 134 128 122 116 109 106 Capacity for St David’s prior to 2012 was161. Conservatory extensions in 2009 and 2012 increased this in theory to 175, but due to a falling roll the Admission Number was not increased from 23 to 25. Currently, the Preschool provision can be led by a member of staff with a at least a level 3 qualification recognised on the Care Council for Wales’ current list of Accepted Qualifications for the Early Years and Childcare Workforce in Wales or Skills Active’s Integrated Qualification Framework for Playwork; with two years experience of working in day care. At least 50% of the non-supervisory staff must hold a qualification at least at level 2 ensuring a ratio of one adult to eight children aged 2 ½ - 4 years. St David’s would be able to provide Early Years Unit provision led by an experience Foundation Phase senior manager (Teacher). The class itself may be led by this person or by another Foundation Phase trained teacher. To ensure a ratio of one adult to ten children aged 3-4 years, dependent on numbers of children, additional Foundation Phase Level 3 Learning Support staff may be required. Existing staff from the Preschool would be included in the application process, but the Governing Body would also advertise externally and appoint the most suitably qualified and experienced person for the position. All staff would take part in whole school training that ensures consistency in teaching strategies and initiatives.