Changes are to be made to the admission arrangements for Mickley Infant and Nursery School, near Clay Cross, and Brackenfield Special School in Long Eaton following a decision taken by Derbyshire County Council.
Mickley Infant and Nursery School currently provides education for children aged 3 to 7 years. After age 7 children from the local area have to travel to Shirland Primary School, which causes issues for many parents who have children at both schools.
The proposal for Mickley Infant and Nursery is to turn it into a primary school so that children can stay on after age 7 from September 2022. Two new classrooms will be built for the new junior pupils. Demand for places from the local area is such that these plans will not adversely affect Shirland Primary School.
A recent consultation on the plan had more than 50 responses, with overwhelming support for the plan.
Brackenfield Special School currently has a lower age limit of 4 years, and this will now be changed to 3 years so that children can start their nursery education at the school. There are enough staff and space for an 8-place Nursery.
The school will start to offer nursery places from September 2021.
Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Alex Dale, said:
“Both of these changes will make a real difference to children from the local area, and make sure we give them the best start in life.
“Mickley Infant and Nursery School has had to shorten the school day due to the distance between the school and the junior school in Shirland, as parents with a child at both schools cannot be in 2 places at once. This plan will make life much easier for all involved.
“With some housing planned for the local area this will also mean that the school can expand to accommodate the children who will live in those homes.
“And offering nursery education at Brackenfield will mean that the school can offer a seamless and comprehensive education for children from 3 years old.”
