Policy and Guidelines for Admissions to Nursery Classes and Early Childhood Centres
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 March 2023
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 15 March 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL LEARNING AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE 15 MARCH 2023 POLICY AND GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSIONS TO NURSERY CLASSES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES Report by Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (Report No. 23/86) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this report is to outline for Elected Members the requirement for changes to the current Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) Early Learning and Childcare Policy and Guidelines for Admission to Nursery Classes and Early Childhood Centres 2022-23. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Notes the changes required to the current Early Learning and Childcare Policy and Guidelines for Admission to Nursery Classes and Early Childhood Centres 2022-23 as set out within this report. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 In preparation for full implementation of the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), the Policy and Guidelines for Admissions to Early Learning and Childcare Settings was approved at a Lifelong Learning Committee in November 2019 (Report No. 19/324 refers). 4.2 On 2 October 2019, the Minister for Children and Young People committed to bring forward legislation to extend the automatic funding of an additional year of ELC in a deferred year to children born after the school commencement date in August to the end of December. 4.3 Prior to the amended legislation being implemented for start of school session August 2023, the entitlement for another funded year of ELC was only available for children who had a 5th birthday in January or February. Parents who had a child with a 5th birthday between the school commencement date
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in August and the end of December and wished for their child to have another funded year of ELC, had to apply for a deferred entry place. In light of the new legislation, there will no longer be a need for the deferred entry process and reference to this will be removed from the policy and guidance. 4.4 All children who have a birthday between the start of the school commencement date in August and the end of December, who defer entry to primary school, will now be automatically entitled to an additional year of funded ELC from August 2023. 4.5 To reflect the changes to legislation, PKC will be required to update the deferred entry information for the academic year 2023-2024 (Appendix 1). 5. CONCLUSION 5.1 The information regarding deferred entry will be updated to reflect the changes to legislation. 5.2 The policy will no longer refer to deferred entry and this will be replaced with the following information: Additional Year of funded ELC Parents of children who will be 5 between the school commencement date in August and 28 February 2023 have the right to choose for their child to have an additional year of funded ELC. Children in this age group, are eligible for an ELC place at the beginning of the school session in August 2023 and will be considered to be in their pre-school year. 5.3 Guidance for staff and guidance for parents has also been updated to reflect the changes. 5.4 The changes are required for children registering for primary one and ELC in August 2023. Registration for primary one and ELC opened for parents in January 2023. Author Name Designation Contact Details Sharon Johnston Head of Education and Learning ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) 14 February 2023
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce Yes Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment Yes Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance Yes Risk Yes Consultation Internal Yes External None Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (i). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (i).
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1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Best Start 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 Funding has been made available by the Scottish Government for this change to nursery admissions. It is currently unknown what the uptake and associated costs will be. As a result, this will be monitored and reported to the Finance and Resources Committee as appropriate. Workforce 2.2 The Head of Human Resources has been consulted and is aware of the changes. It is unknown at this time if there will be a need for increased ELC staffing or a reduction in primary 1 teachers. This will depend on the uptake of the additional funded year of ELC and will be reviewed once the registration period has concluded. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 N/A 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. The Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to this report can be viewed by clicking here. The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as relevant and the following positive outcomes expected following implementation: • Increased parental choice; and • Improved outcomes.
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Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. The proposals have been considered under the Act; however, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt, or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 N/A Legal and Governance 3.4 The proposed changes will be accommodated within the statutory framework in relation to education authority provision of ELC. 3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 Service Managers within Early Years and Childcare and Primary settings will monitor registrations for ELC and primary one closely and undertake appropriate planning to mitigate against any risks. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The following groups were consulted about the changes: • Early Years Team Leads • Early Years Support Teachers • Nursery Teachers
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External 4.2 N/A 5. Communication 5.1 An email was sent to schools and ELC settings in October 2022 to alert them to the changes. Guidance for staff and Additional year of ELC Parent Guidance was updated and circulated to schools and ELC providers in November 2022. Changes were communicated wider with parents via social media channels and included in primary 1 registration adverts in January 2023. The updated Policy and Guidelines for Admissions to Nursery Classes and Early Childhood Centres will be available on the PKC website. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 The following background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report: • Current Policy • Deferred school entry and eligibility until 31 July 2023 - Early learning and childcare: statutory guidance - July 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 – Early Learning and Childcare Policy and Guidelines (amended policy)