More reception class places needed

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More reception places are needed - Milnrow Parish Primary School reception class

More reception class places are needed across the borough for the primary school intake in September this year.

Councillors at tonight’s (Monday 31 January 2011) cabinet meeting approved the plan for more places.

In the last two years, the number of children born has been just over 3000; although there are differences at township level.

The School Organisation Plan Update 2011-2014 sets out how the Local Authority proposes to make sure there are enough primary school places for children in the Borough.

The council has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places in the area it serves. The need to plan for an increase in demand from September 2011 is clear, based upon the number of children born in the Borough. However, care needs to be exercised in looking at demand based on rising birth rates alone.

Considering the number of additional reception class places needed, and where they are to be provided, further factors need to be taken into account. These are:

• Where their children were born
• The past patterns of parental preferences in those localities
• The availability of space to provide those places
• The effect of infant calls size legislation
• And redistribution of population.

There have been a few concerns on this matter, 21 responses were received from schools, governors and parents.

The key concerns expressed by schools are that where additional places are to be provided that assurances are given that the capital costs and revenue implications are met by the council. Some schools and some parents have said they would welcome an increase in pupil numbers at particular schools, as they have the capacity and/or demand to take them.

In the whole borough, in September 2011, 123 extra places will be needed, and by September 2012, 173 placements will be essential.

• 19 places will be necessary by September this year, and 42 by next year in Heywood.
• In Middleton, 42 reception places will need to be made available in September 2011 and 20 more in 2012.
• 57 more places will be deemed necessary by September this year, and 94 by the next in Rochdale.
• The Pennines will need 6 additional places this year, and 17 more will be required in September 2012.