Excellent future for Warwickshire maintained nursery schools
A huge level of support from staff, governors and parents to allow all nursery schools in Warwickshire to work towards Centre of Excellence status has been supported by the county council’s Cabinet.
Cabinet members said they recognised the unanimous support for Option 3 in a consultation by Warwickshire County Council on the future of maintained nursery schools.
The consultation on the future of nursery schools explored three options for consideration:
Option 1 – to amalgamate the nursery schools with a local primary school
Option 2 – to develop the nursery schools primarily as children’s centres
Option 3 – to develop the nursery schools as Centres of Excellence
The consultation generated a huge response from parents and the general public, as well as nursery school staff and governors, all of which reflects unanimous support for option 3 - to develop nursery schools into Centres of Excellence.
Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet considered the outcome of the consultation yesterday (Thursday 22 July) and recognised the support for Option 3 and that all nursery schools will be allowed to work towards Centre of Excellence status.
This means that they will all retain their Department for Education status as a school, but will offer support to other providers of early years education. It is proposed that this work will begin in September 2010.
Cllr Heather Timms, the county council’s Portfolio Holder for Children Young People and Families outlined the recommendations to her Cabinet colleagues.
Cllr Timms said: “Cabinet was today extremely impressed by what a worthwhile consultation this has been and at the level of public interest. As a local authority we have listened to the strong feelings expressed by parents in the communities involved and want to reassure them that we are committed to offering the highest quality provision for their children.
“We have also been very impressed by the commitment shown by the nursery schools to share their expertise with other providers for the benefit of children across the whole county.
"That is why Cabinet members have today agreed to begin to work with nursery schools to develop them into Centres of Excellence from September of this year.”