Consultation to lower age range
Decision on the consultation to lower the age range at Peter Pan Nursery School
The Early Years Reference Group (EYRG) met on 11th June to review the consultation findings and reports for the proposed change of age range of Peter Pan Nursery School which would open on 1st September 2026, at the earliest.
Members at the meeting included representation from the following groups: School improvement, public health, early years SEND support, Bedfordshire Employment Skills Academy, an academy primary school with early years, a maintained nursery school and a private pre-school.
The EYRG agreed to lowering the age range from 2 years to 9 months with the understanding that the school will:
- Continue to work in partnership with local early years settings, including the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI’s), ensuring families within the community are supported and all early years settings work together to ensure viability.
- Continue to engage with settings offering places for children younger than 2 years old to learn from their experience and shared best practice.
- Update the school travel plan and work with Heart Academies Trust to minimise traffic impact.
The proposal was approved as members of the EYRG felt that the change of age range would help to meet demand for additional childcare for children aged 2 and under in this ward. Peter Pan Nursery School is within an area of high socioeconomic deprivation, therefore, accessing high quality early education from a younger age aligns with the government’s Best Start in Life ambitions.
Peter Pan Nursery School staff are known to actively engage in CPD and Local Authority initiatives and for their commitment to high quality early years provision. School staff were commended on their ability to meet SEND needs, support early identification and contribute positively to improving good level of development measures. Peter Pan Nursery School is outstanding by OfSTED (last inspection 19th April 2023), and the Council feels that the school are in a strong position to increase their early years provision.