Nursery Consultation 2026

Update on our Nursery Provision

Following our consultation earlier this year, the Governing Board  agreed to move forward with the proposed change to the organisation of our nursery provision, which will operate as a governor-run community provision under Section 27.

Our nursery has never been about making a profit. We established it for two very important reasons. Firstly, we wanted to ensure that high-quality nursery provision was available locally, particularly for our most vulnerable families. We know that some parents may not otherwise access nursery education, and by offering provision within our school community, we can reach children who may benefit enormously from early education and support before starting Reception. These are often the children for whom early nursery experiences can make the greatest difference. Secondly, when the former Children's Centre building was transferred to the school, part of the agreement was that we would continue to provide services for children under five.

We remain fully committed to the quality of our Early Years provision and strongly believe in the importance of qualified teachers supporting nursery education. Following updated Department for Education guidance, we need to make this organisational change to ensure our provision complies with the new requirements.

We want to reassure all parents and carers that our nursery will continue to be very much part of Cradle Hill. It will continue to be overseen by our school staff, with the same commitment to high-quality early education and care. There will be no changes to the day-to-day experience of children or families as a result of this change.

We are proud of our nursery and the important role it plays in supporting children at the very start of their educational journey. Our commitment to providing the best possible start for all children and supporting our local families remains unchanged.