Public Consultation Response

Finedon Infant School Change of Age Range Consultation March 2025

We would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation.  The consultation is now closed. We received a majority of very positive comments in favour of the proposal.  

Will the 4/5 year-old Reception children’s education suffer?

• There will be no negative impact on the education of children in Reception. The Reception and nursery children will be in different classes. Reception will continue to operate in the successful way it does now.
• The outdoor learning space available to nursery children will be enhanced as they will be able to access the Reception undercover play area and outdoor play area when the Reception children are engaged in learning activities inside. This will improve the provision for the nursery children as well as supporting their transition into Reception as they will become familiar with the setting and staff.

Is this being done for financial gain for the school?

• There is no financial benefit to the school of having a nursery provision. The funding we receive will be exactly the same as the funding playgroup currently receives. We will also no longer receive rental income from the playgroup for the use of our building.
• Our complete focus is on the long-term educational benefit to our children.
• We are investing in the space for the benefit of our children. The nursery area will be completely redecorated during the summer. It will also be remodelled and refitted. The space will be designed with the needs of our nursery children in mind.

Will the nursery children’s learning be in a formal class-based environment, rather than a play-based one?

• The nursery children will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which all early years settings, including the playgroup, follow. Children will have a named key worker, just as they do in playgroup.
• We know that young children learn best through play. Play will be at the heart of everything within the nursery, ensuring children develop and learn in a fun and engaging way.
• The children would not have set breaks or attend school assemblies, although they will have the opportunity to be involved in special events such as watching the Reception nativity performance at Christmas.
• Every child will be supported to develop essential communication, social, and emotional skills in a nurturing environment. Through a blend of child-led exploration and thoughtfully designed play-based activities, we will inspire curiosity, spark creativity, and build confidence, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
• This approach to learning continues in part through Reception, helping children transition more easily as they start to move through the school.
  

Will the nursery be inclusive and meet the needs of children with SEND?

• Finedon Infant School and Finedon Mulso CE Junior School are very inclusive schools. We create bespoke provision for children with SEND based on advice from local special schools and a range of external professionals, including Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language therapists. We are regularly praised for our provision by these specialist teachers. We will be dedicated to providing the same approach to nursery children, making the provision suit the unique, individual needs of children.
• As well as supporting our children, we have a dedicated parent support advisor and team of leaders who offer support to the wider family.

Will there be too many rules to follow for young children?

• Across both our schools we have three very simple ‘Diamond Rules’ to follow. They will be adapted for the age of nursery children just like they are from Reception to Y6. Our children learn and behave well as highlighted in our recent Ofsted report –
• ‘Thriving at Finedon’ teaches pupils to behave well. The ‘Diamond Rules: show good manners at all times, care for everyone and everything, and follow instructions with thought and care’ are well known and understood by everyone. Pupils live up to these expectations. Pupils get on well with each other. They wait their turn and are polite. Relationships between pupils and adults are strong. Pupils are tolerant and respectful of one another.’
  

How will it affect Apple Tree Club wraparound care?

• There will be no change to the hours or the same high-quality care that Apple Tree Club wraparound currently provides. It will be open from 7:45 am to 5:45 pm all year round, including the school holidays.
• We intend to include nursery children in the Apple Tree Club wraparound care as soon as possible after the nursery provision is established.

Some respondents were worried around securing a place at the nursery and whether the 30 funded hours will be available.

• We will have places for up to 38 children. We are open to include the small number of children that have already started at St Michael’s who will not be 3 at the start of September, if parents wish for this.
• The funded hours will be available in exactly the same way that they are with playgroup.
• We propose that the nursery will be open from 8:45 am to 3:15 pm.
  

How will this change be managed without impacting the current year groups? How would sickness be managed and staffing ratios?

• There will be no impact on any other year groups in the school. Staff sickness would be managed just as it is in school, with a wide team of experienced staff to draw on to provide cover.
• We will recruit highly-qualified staff to ensure that we provide a high-quality and successful nursery as well as having access to staff from the school to support the nursery team as required.
  

How many intakes would there be?

• There will be three intakes a year – September, January and April – the term after a child turns three.

Concerns around transition

• We see this as the ideal opportunity to ensure a seamless transition into Reception for our nursery children. They will build on the relationships they have formed with staff and with other children in nursery and in the Reception classes. Staff will already know them well and the children will know the staff. The approach to learning has an element of continuity for the children, and they will be familiar with the setting.

There were some comments about the impact on the community of not having St Michael’s Playgroup in its current setting anymore.

• The infant and junior schools are long standing, well-established, consistently good schools who are at the heart of our local community. We are looking to enhance our impact on the community by utilising the space in our school building that we have previously rented to St Michael’s Playgroup and establish our own teacher-led nursery for the long-term educational benefit to our children.
• The latest infant school Ofsted report (October 2023) stated:
  • Finedon Infant School is a caring and happy school.
  • The school is ambitious for all of its pupils to achieve. As a consequence, pupils do well, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged. It is an inclusive school.
  • Pupils with SEND are well supported.
  • One parent stated, ‘The atmosphere in the school is welcoming, friendly and a place where my child feels safe.’
  • The school is a calm and organised place. Pupils are well-mannered, respectful and courteous.
  • The learning environment in the early years foundation stage is well organised and purposeful. The outside environment has been well thought out. It is highly engaging. Pupils enjoy their time outside and work well together.
  • Adults interact with children effectively. There is a tight focus on developing children’s vocabulary and oracy
  • Our recent parent survey (March 2025) was overwhelmingly positive and particularly praised the practice in Reception and its strong communication with parents. We are looking to further build on the role we play in supporting the development of children in our community

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Would you like your child to be part of our exciting nursery journey?
Although we can’t formally offer spaces yet, please contact us if you would like your child’s name adding to our list.

For updates and to register your interest for a place in our Nursery, please click here.