Consultation
Proposed Addition of Nursery for 2 – 4 year olds at Severn Beach Primary School to open in September 2025.
The three week consultation period commences 29th April 2025 and closes at noon on 20th May. It is very important that all those wishing to respond to this proposal do so within this timeframe to allow their comments to be considered by the decision maker.
Responses can be made on-line via the following link:
Consultation on Nursery becoming part of Severn Beach Primary School
Should you require a paper/word copy of the consultation form please contact:
Stakeholders are warmly welcomed to attend Severn Beach Primary School in person on Monday 12th May 2025 between 3.30pm and 4.30pm to ask questions about the proposal.
Introduction
The Trust Board of The Castle Education Schools Trust (CSET), in agreement with South Gloucestershire Council and with the full support of the leadership team in the school is proposing the addition of a Nursery for children aged 2 - 4 years old. The proposed Nursery would offer 24 places for 2 year olds and 24 places for 3 and 4 year olds.
The proposal has met the criteria for a significant change to an academy and therefore a public consultation must be held on this proposal.
This document helps to explain the background to the proposal and the next steps of this process:
- What is being proposed
- Why is it being proposed
- Details of how the decision will be made
- How to submit a response
The Trustees are proposing to make a significant change to Severn Beach Primary School following the Making Significant Changes to an Open Academy Guidance (2024) issued by the Department for Education. This statutory proposal document contains all the relevant information to allow interested parties to decide whether to support the proposed change. The Castle Education Schools Trust must follow a statutory process for making prescribed alterations to schools. The publication of this statutory proposal and notices forms part of that process.
What is proposed?
The Nursery would use existing space, available due to the closure of the current committee-run Nursery (which operates from two classrooms). Capital works required would be funded by South Gloucestershire Council, with places then funded through Early Years Education funding. Changes would support the Local Authority to meet their statutory functions around sufficiency of places for Early Years provision, specifically places for two year olds.
If the proposed change of an addition of a Nursery goes ahead, admissions for places will be managed directly by the Nursery Leader. Attending the Nursery will not give children any additional priority for a place at Severn Beach Primary School.
Why is it being proposed?
Severn Beach Primary School values the importance of Early Education and supporting the needs of all children from the community in which we serve. This aligns with the Trust’s values of providing a rich and inspiring education through which young people develop their knowledge and understanding of the world around them, expanding horizons and raising aspirations.
Adding a Nursery to the school will have a number of benefits:
- Dedicated school based Early Years provision for children within the community that they live to support their individual needs
- Wrap around provision for Nursery between 7.30am and 6.00pm (integrated within school wrap around care)
- Overseen by a Reception teacher, a carefully mapped and sequenced Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum plan, raising educational standards and outcomes for all
- A trust wide focus on speech and language, early phonics and early intervention through this Nursery and the Trust’s Head of Nursery and Preschool at to ensure good practice and quality professional development for staff
- Access to qualified teachers and support staff all of whom are trained to understand the learning journey for every child.
- Access to school facilities for the Nursery children through use of classrooms, library, school hall and a hot meal offered at lunchtime.
How will the decision be made?
The three week consultation period commences on 29th April 2025 and closes at noon on 20th May 2025. A Public Notice has been issued on the school website, around the school and in the local area.
The following stakeholders will also be directly notified;
- Parents and carers of pupils attending the school
- Parents and carers of pupils within the Trust
- Staff and Trustees of the school
- Neighbouring schools
- Local, District and County Councillors
- Local Member of Parliament
- Cabinet Member responsible for Children and Families
- Any other known local stakeholders
At the conclusion of the consultation period the Trustees of The Castle Education Schools Trust will consider all the responses to the consultation and (subject to any necessary consents being obtained) decide whether to proceed with the proposal by making a formal application for a significant change to add Nursery. The Regional Director for Education will then decide on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education whether proposals are in line with the needs of the local area.
How to submit a response
Responses can be made on-line via the following link and must be received by noon on 20th May 2025:
Consultation on Nursery becoming part of Severn Beach Primary School
Should you require a paper/word copy of the consultation form or this consultation notice please contact: