Issue details

To consider a report of the Director of Children's Services - North Baddesley Infant School is a community school currently approved to take children of school age from Year R to Year 2. The PAN for the school is currently 90 with maximum capacity of 270. The governing body of the school is seeking to:

(a) Lower the school age range to 2-year-olds; and
(b) Directly manage a new early years’ facility as part of the school.

The school leadership team has reviewed its management, financial and operational arrangements, and the governors at its meeting on 24 June 2021 gave full agreement to the proposal.

The school has previously offered the childcare opportunity to the open market. This resulted in only one interested provider who went through the selection process; however, they have chosen not to take up the opportunity to deliver the childcare provision. The school has not considered to offer it out again due to the poor response previously.

The lowered age range will be accommodated in the multi-purpose building which is currently sited on the school campus which has full facilities to accommodate younger children. The accommodation was successfully purchased and installed via a community grant and the remaining costs were supported by the school who recognised the demand for wrap around care by their working parents.

There is no cost to Hampshire County Council associated with this proposal.

A public consultation was held from 3 September to 1 October 2021.

There have been three objections raised and these have been resolved.