Hucknall primary school to accept pre-schoolers from this autumn

Holgate Primary and Nursery School in High Leys Road, Hucknall. Image credit: Google.
By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
A Hucknall primary school will start offering pre-school places to two-year-olds after council approval on September 12.
Holgate Primary and Nursery School is in Hucknall in Ashfield district.
Before approval by Nottinghamshire County Council, provision was only offered for children between three and 11 years old.
Over the next few months, along with approval from the school’s governing body, the site will open up pre-school places for two-year-old children.
The decision comes after the early years provision which was originally running independently on site ceased its operation.
The Department for Education requires local authorities to follow the statutory process for making prescribed alterations to schools.
From this, the council published a section 19 notice on July 16, where a four-week representation period followed to allow for objections and comments on the proposal- this notice expired on August 12.
Around 94 per cent of respondents, most of which were parents in the area, voted in favour of the school’s age range being lowered to two years old and to offer provision for these children.
The council’s decision report read: “Children and families of 2 year-olds will have access to early years childcare and education in their own locality. They will not need to travel to an alternative provider out of the area to access their free entitlement place.”
There will be no amendments to the school’s statutory places for children.
This decision is subject to approval from The Director Of Children And Families Service at some point during the next few months.
If approved, the site will then open up pre-school places for two-year-old children.