Consultation on the Proposal to lower the age range at Hunsbury Park Primary School, Northampton

Overview

We are looking for views on the proposal to lower the age range for Hunsbury Park Primary School, Dayrell Rd, Northampton NN4 9RR from ages 4 to 11 year olds to 2 to 11 year olds.

This will allow Hunsbury Park Primary School to take over the running of Campers Early Years and Out of School Club, located on site at Hunsbury Park Primary School (that is currently closed due to unforeseen circumstances).

It is proposed that subject to a successful consultation process and statutory approvals being granted the nursery will re-open from Monday 23 September 2024. This will bridge the gap in provision for 2 to 11 year olds in the local area and ensure continuity of service for families and the community.

Hunsbury Park Primary School propose to continue running the previous term time, full day care model, offering flexible patterns to meet the needs of the working demographic. They will operate between 8am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday and will continue to offer 24 full time equivalent funded early education entitlement (FEEE) places to 2 to 4 year old children and an out of school club for 4 to 11 years. 

To support a robust handover and to meet staffing requirements, they will be providing a staged approach by offering pre-school (3 year olds) morning and afternoon sessions in the first academic year (2024/25) and extended full nursery sessions to 2 and 3 year olds in the second academic year (2025/26). Although the school are proposing a staged approach, it is expected to have a minimal impact on families due to the low number of 2-year olds previously in attendance.

Under this proposal, children aged 2-4 years would formally become part of the same structure as the school within the nursery school provision and on the nursery roll. The changes proposed are expected to be permanent.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is responsible for delivering early years provision within the Hunsbury area of West Northamptonshire. It is also legally obliged to conduct a period of consultation on this proposal as part of the statutory decision-making process.

Children will benefit from one cohesive team working with the school’s early years cohort and a high-quality teaching and learning experience with provision led by the Head of Early Years (QTS).

WNC feel the provision will support younger children with school readiness and a smooth transition to reception, due to familiarity of the environment and staff.

Table of key milestones:

Evidence of need

Due to the sudden closure of Campers Pre-School and Out of School Club and the lack of alternative early years provision for 2 to 4 years old in the local area, the reopening of this provision will ensure that local families are able to access the support that they need for childcare and early education.

Have your say

WNC would like to know what people think about this proposal and you can give your views by following the link below to the online survey. 

If you are unable to complete the online survey, or you require it in an alternative format please contact us by: 

Email:  placeplanningconsultation@westnorthants.gov.uk with the subject ‘FAO Hunsbury Park Early Years Consultation’.

Post:

• Amanda Zendel
• Place Planning Manager
• Hunsbury Park Early Years consultation 
• West Northamptonshire Council
• The Guildhall
• St Giles Street
• Northampton
• NN1 1ED

Telephone: 0300 126 7000 - Please ask to be transferred to Amanda Zendel, Place Planning Manager.

All responses must be received by midnight on Tuesday 10 September 2024. 

What happens next

At the end of the consultation period, WNC will collate and review all of the responses received and a summary of them will be published as part of the Cabinet report on which a final decision on this proposal will be based. The results will be analysed and an assessment made on whether to proceed with the proposal. All stakeholder views expressed will be given full consideration prior to any future decisions being made. 

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.

Thank you for helping us by completing this questionnaire.