Bracknell Forest Council
Record of Decision
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Work Programme Reference
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I100205 |
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1. |
TITLE: |
New Early Years Facility at Priestwood
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2. |
SERVICE AREA: |
People
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3. |
PURPOSE OF DECISION
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Approval to spend of up to £100,000 of the secured Section 106 funds to refurbish the North hall in the Berkshire Guide Centre (Windlesham Road, Bracknell) to create a 0-2 year old nursery room. The building is part of Bracknell Forest Council estate. This will support the Council’s statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents (or parents in education/training) (Childcare Act 2006 Section 6).
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IS KEY DECISION |
No
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5. |
DECISION MADE BY: |
Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning
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6. |
DECISION:
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That spend of up to £100,000 of s106 funds to create a new Early Years Facility at the Berkshire Guide Centre in Priestwood (0-2 year olds) be approved.
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7. |
REASON FOR DECISION
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The College Nursery currently located at Coopers Hill has received notice to leave the site at end of July 2021. Despite close working between Bracknell Forest Council and Activate Learning alternative premises have not been secured, therefore the staff and parents have received notice of closure.
The current provision offers affordable, flexible childcare for 0-5 year olds. Closure of this provision will leave some parents without childcare. Whilst there are a number of Early Years providers with vacancies for children age 2 years and over, there is minimal local affordable provision for under 2’s.
Refurbishing the hall at the Guide Centre will enable the existing provider located within the building to extend the age range they cater for to include 0-2 year olds. The provision will double the number of places available for this age group. This will support the Council’s statutory duty ‘to secure sufficient childcare for working parents (or parents in education/training)’ (Childcare Act 2006 Section 6).
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8. |
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
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This site is owned by the Council and is already rented to an Early Years provider currently rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED, no further registration is required and therefore the provision could be open from September 2021.
A scheme to create a brand new building was considered in the Wick Hill car park (off Bull Lane) this was not affordable and it was also noted that both the primary and secondary schools close to this site had excess capacity within the schools.
Contact was made with both local schools with excess capacity, however neither school was able to proceed with any plans to relocate the setting on to their sites.
A range of options were discussed with Activate Learning, contact was made with providers seeking to open premises within the local area, however possibly due to Covid these plans did not come to fruition.
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9. |
DOCUMENT CONSIDERED: |
Report of the Executive Director: People
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10. |
DECLARED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: |
None.
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Date Decision Made |
Final Day of Call-in Period |
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9 June 2021 |
27 July 2021 |
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