Consultation to lower the age range for Wheatfield Primary School

The Proposal

Wheatfield Primary School, with the support of GLF Schools, is proposing to change the age range of the school from 4-11 years to 2-11 years.

Why are we making these changes?

The proposal is part of a GLF Schools Trust wide strategy to develop nursery provision across our primary schools and maximise the educational benefits in offering local families funded only, teacher led early years provision. The proposal also supports the recent Government announcement to extend the early years funded entitlement to families of all 2-year-olds from April 2024.

The change will support Wheatfield Primary School to become a 2-11 community hub for local families. There will not be any additional building work required as the school is able to effectively reconfigure existing space.

Details of the proposal

The school proposes to lower its age range to be able to accept children from the age of two years, offering families the option of a continued education for their children from 2-11 years.

How will this proposal be implemented?

To amend the age range of Wheatfield Primary School and GLF Schools (the multi-academy trust) must now consult with all stakeholders.

Who are we consulting with?

We wish to seek the views of everyone associated with the school and the wider local community:

• Parents and carers of Wheatfield Primary School
• Other local primary schools and their parental community
• Other local nurseries and their parental community
• Staff employed at Wheatfield Primary School
• The Local Authority

How long will the consultation last?

The consultation will run for a period of four ‘term time’ weeks, starting on Monday 18^th September 2023 and ending on Friday 13^th October 2023.

Have your say

There is a consultation response form, please see document at the bottom of the page. Please complete and return this form by 5pm on Friday 13^th October. You can do this in one of two ways:

• Complete electronically and return by email to nurseryconsultation@wheatfieldschool.org

• Complete by hand and return to Consultation Responses, Wheatfield Primary School, Woodward Close, Winnersh, Berkshire RG41 5UU.

There will also be a public meeting held at the school on Tuesday 3^rd October at 10:30am where you can come along and speak to members of the school and Trust.

Next steps

GLF Schools to review the responses and make a recommendation to the Trust Board.

Any application to amend the age range of the school will need to be submitted by GLF Schools to the Regional Director who will decide, on behalf of the Secretary of State, whether the change to age range is approved.