Agenda item

For the Sub-Committee to receive and comment on the upcoming June Cabinet Report outlining the current position in relation to Maintained Nursery Schools and options for the future provision of this in Croydon. (To Follow)

The Sub-Committee considered a paper set out on pages 33 to 34 of the agenda, and in the supplementary agenda, which provided the report due for decision by the Executive Mayor at Cabinet on the 28^th June 2023 concerning Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) in Croydon. The Director of Education introduced and summarised the report, highlighting the national context with other authorities already having taken decisions in this area. Members heard that this report had been brought because of the financial position of MNS over a number of years, and due to a declining birth rate. It was highlighted that the recommendations in the report were to move to a consultation on reducing the provision of MNS, and that no decisions had yet been made. The Director of Education explained that this report was important in setting a strategic direction in relation to MNS, and drew the attention of Members to the recently approved Early Years Strategy; the Sub-Committee heard that the Council understood the great importance of supporting the education of the youngest children in the borough. The Director of Education explained that it was important that parental choice for Early Years provision was still available, and that MNS was just one aspect of this provision.

Members asked why it had not been specified which nurseries were in deficit, and of the ones in deficit, which of these were in this position as a result of remaining open during COVID. The Director of Education explained that they would not be commenting on these kinds of details in order to avoid the appearance of any predetermination before a consultation had taken place; it was confirmed that nurseries had remained open during COVID, but that the deficit had accrued over a longer period that predated this. Members heard that COVID would have reduced the number of families accessing Early Years provision with some parents and carers working from home. The Sub-Committee highlighted that two of the nurseries were federated, but that this was not acknowledged in the report; the Director of Education explained that this was only an initial report that recommended moving to a consultation, at which point this kind of detail would be looked at in the context of the views of parents, families, partners and young people. It was highlighted that Early Years provision was extremely important, and that MNS was one aspect of this; should the recommendations of the report be accepted by Cabinet, there would be a further report on the results of the consultation that considered all of the views gathered. The Director of Education stated that the consultation was open to hearing any alternative MNS operating models that could deliver provision without further increasing the deficit.

Members raised concerns that, should MNS provision be reduced, that there would be less children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. The Director of Education explained that should Cabinet decide to move to consultation, then this would be a focus, and that a detailed Equality Impact Assessment would be undertaken that took into account a number of different vulnerabilities. Members heard that it was recognised that there were increased numbers of children coming from Early Years settings with identified and unidentified SEND needs; as a result, the Locality SEND Support programme would be rolled out into Early Years settings so that there was support for families, where these needs were identified, to ensure a smooth transition into schools. The Director of Education highlighted that the consultation on Children’s Centres had been wide reaching, responsive and adaptive to feedback, and that this approach would be carried through to any consultation on MNS. The Corporate Director for Children, Young People & Education highlighted that no decisions had yet been made, and that the outcome of any consultation could not be predetermined, but that it would need to provide a solution to the financial situation of MNS in Croydon.

It was asked what proportion of children leaving MNS were registered SEND or awaiting a review; the Director of Education explained that it was not possible to provide this figure, as the community was so mobile, and many children did not go on to attend a school in Croydon. Members heard that the number of Reception children with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) could be provided if requested, but it would be difficult to determine how many of these children had attended an MNS in Croydon. It was explained that, as the Locality SEND Support programme was rolled out, that SEND support would be provided in Early Years settings, which would make this kind of data more readily available. The Vice-Chair highlighted the importance of MNS in working with families of children with unidentified SEND needs and their hope that this was reflected in any consultation.

The Sub-Committee asked what the possible positive outcomes for children would be should the proposed option of the consultation come to pass. The Director of Education explained that they could not pre-empt the results of the consultation, but that the focus of the Education department was on providing a positive start to children in education and delivering a comprehensive Early Years provision to support the choices of parents. Members asked if, given the national context, there was anything MNS could have done to avoid their current situation. The Corporate Director for Children, Young People & Education responded that this was a national challenge, not just for MNS, but for other schools too, and highlighted the work done over a number of years through the Education department and Schools Forum to help these organisations live within their means.

The Chair invited Councillor Foster to ask a question regarding the number of children attending MNS over the last few years predating COVID, the cost of living affecting parent choice, and the possible negative effects that reducing MNS provision might have on the recruitment and retention of professionals in future. The Director of Education explained that Nursery teachers operated in a number of environments other than MNS, and that this was important to ensure that parents and families had choice and could send their children to an environment with a qualified teacher or an Early Years educator. Members heard that COVID had seen a reduction in those accessing Early Years provision due to increased homeworking of families, but that MNS attendance figures were not static and there had been some increases since the end of the pandemic; the figures of those attending MNS in Croydon for the last six years could be provided if requested. The Director of Education confirmed that any consultation would embrace any suggestions of operating models from respondents.

Members asked about falling birth rates, how school place requirements had been calculated, whether the figures were robust, and if there was an accepted level of MNS provision per capita. The Director of Education explained that the annual school capacity survey (SCAP) required the numbers of school places to be set in advance, and this took into account predicted birth rates, mobility and housing growth; figures were set five years in advance, but were different every year due to high mobility in Croydon. Members heard that whilst this was worked out through a formula, school place planning was not a science. The Director for Education explained that the budget ‘followed the child’, but that this needed to be balanced with capacity to take on additional children where needed. Members asked if having to many school places with not enough children could lead to reduced budget per child and it was confirmed that this could be the case; not all places were filled in MNS but staffing costs remained the same, and a solution was needed that had sufficient provision without increasing the deficits of MNS.

The Sub-Committee asked about actions taken by other boroughs, and how long consultation on reducing MNS had been considered. The Director of Education responded that discussion on this kind of consultation had been considered for a number of years, and that other boroughs had already amalgamated or federated MNS, or had no provision at all. Members noted that Sutton did not have any MNS provision. The Director of Education restated that they could not pre-empt the decision at Cabinet or the results of any consultation.

Members asked if it was possible that primary schools would increase nursery provision should MNS reduce. The Director of Education stated that they could not know if this would happen, but that any consultation would likely generate a lot of discussion, including at the Schools Forum.

The Sub-Committee asked what would be done about the ‘historic deficit’, and it was explained that, should any MNS be closed, the deficit would move to the Council’s General Fund. The Director for Education confirmed that any consultation would start after the school Summer Holidays.

Request for Information

The Sub-Committee requested that the number of those on the MNS nursery school rolls over the last 6 years be provided to inform Members on the demand for MNS places over this period.

Conclusions

The Sub-Committee concluded that, should Cabinet approve the consultation, that the Sub-Committee monitor and engage with the consultation as fully as possible, and that any paper on the consultation results should be included on the Work Programme for 2023/24.

The Sub-Committee were of the view that it should encourage as much engagement as possible with the consultation should it be approved by Cabinet.