Nursery and primary schools set to merge in cost-cutting move

Sheffield Council cabinet committee members are set to hear plans next week to amalgamate Birley Community Nursery School with Birley Community Primary School.

If the plans are agreed, a nursery class with 52 full-time places would continue to operate from the current nursery school building, but the nursery school would cease to exist as a separate organisation.

Management of the nursery class would instead come under the headteacher and governing body of Birley Community Primary School.

Coun Jackie Drayton, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for children, said: “It is crucial to get education right right from the beginning of life, which is why we have set up a review of all early years services, including nursery school provision.

“We want to make sure the children in Birley are getting the best possible standard of education, which is why these plans are crucial. The reduced funding from central government means that if we don’t take action now there is a danger that the nursery will have to close in years to come.

“This would leave Birley children with no early years provision and this is not acceptable at all.

“Although the quality of provision in the existing nursery school is excellent, the merger is the best option to ensure high quality early years provision can continue on the Birley campus.

“The close links with the reception class will also build on the existing good practice. for children moving up from nursery to school in years to come.”

A review of Sheffield’s three nursery schools Birley, Grace Owen in Duke Street and the Broomhall nursery, was set up following the introduction of a new national funding formula.

Previously, nursery schools received extra funding which enabled them to stand alone as a school and have their own headteacher.

However, under the new formula, the income for nursery schools has been reduced, meaning that current costs cannot be met.

A working group, including governors, was set up for each of the three nursery schools in question to discuss the best way forward.

Plans for Grace Owen and Broomhall are still under discussion.

According to council bosses, the proposal for Birley would see a “sustainable future for the nursery places” and have “the advantage of close links with the primary school.”

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: “These proposals mean the nursery can still exist as a dedicated early years facility within the local primary school.

“It is also one of the first steps following a far reaching review of early years currently being undertaken by council leaders.

“Parents and carers and other nursery users will be consulted before any final decision is made.”

Cabinet committee members will discuss the proposals at a meeting next Wednesday, September 14.

If they give the plans the go-ahead, a “full consultation” will then begin with parents, staff, governors, councillors and other schools.

A final decision will be based on the outcome of that consult- ation.

Meanwhile, council bosses have raised the cost of school dinners in Sheffield by 6p a meal in primary schools and 10p a meal at secondary schools.

A new contractor, Taylor Shaw, has taken over as the provider of school dinners at most of the schools in the city.

Coun Drayton added: “Food costs have gone up and we are all feeling the pinch as a consequence.

“But we are protecting Sheffield children from these rising costs by giving them better quality food while keeping the price as low as possible.”