Gatten and Lake Primary School on the Isle of Wight could take over the direct management of an on-site community pre-school.
County Hall’s director of children’s services, Ashley Whittaker, has authorised a public consultation on a proposal to reduce the Shanklin primary’s lower age range from 4 to 2 years old.
The owners of the pre-school, Gatten and Lake Childcare, are due to retire later this year, according to a council report.
Gatten and Lake Primary School is looking to deliver 22 pre-school places for children aged from 2 years old.
The report said:
“The recommendation is to support the request of the headteacher of Gatten and Lake Primary School to undertake a public consultation on reducing the lower age range of the school,”
“This will allow the primary school to continue to work with the current owners of the pre-school to facilitate the transfer of the business to the school should the consultation be approved and help ensure the delivery of childcare sufficiency in the area.”
The change in the school’s age range, which is currently 4 to 11, will take effect from 1st September if given the go-ahead.
Gatten and Lake Childcare currently receives government funding for early years education for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old.
It also provides school aged childcare in the form of ‘after school’ wraparound and holiday care.
A consultation will run until Friday, June 26. Comments or objections on the proposal can be made by sending them to [email protected].
