Decision details

This proposal will help to secure KCC’s ambition “to ensure that Kent’s young people have access to the education, work and skills opportunities necessary to support Kent business to grow and be increasingly competitive in the national and international economy” as set out in ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2016 - 2020)’.

This proposal supports the aims of the Early Years and Childcare Strategy 2016-2019 to:

·         Develop a more integrated approach to early years and childcare provision and services.

·         Ensure better continuity of provision and services across the 0 – 5 age range.

·         Ensure an increasing number of children are school ready at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

·         Mitigate the effect of poverty, inequality and disadvantage through the provision of high quality early education and childcare, including support for parents and carers and narrowing early development achievement gaps.

The Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2017-2021 sets out

how responsibility will be carried out ensuring there are sufficient places of high quality, in the right places, for all learners and this proposal supports that aim to provide sufficient places where they are needed.

The Commissioning Plan sets out the local authority’s duty to secure Free Early Education provision for Pre-school children, including places for 2 year olds;

As Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, I agree to authorise the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education to issue a Public Notice to permanently change the age range of Herne Bay Infant School from 3-7 years to 2-7 years from September 2017.

Should objections, not already considered by the Cabinet Member when taking this decision, be received during the public notice period, a separate decision will be required in order to continue with the proposal, to allow for proper consideration of the points raised.

In reaching this decision, I have taken into account:

• The analysis of the views put in writing in response to the consultation;
• The views of the Area Education Officer and the Headteacher and Governing Body of Herne Bay Infant School;
• The Equalities Impact Assessment and comments received regarding this; and
• the views of the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee which are set out below