Decision details

New Early Years Facility at Priestwood

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

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).

Decision:

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.

Reasons for the decision:

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).

Alternative options considered:

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.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Wards Affected: Priestwood & Garth;

Financial Impact: £100,000

Declarations: None.

Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No.

Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director: People

Other reasons / organisations consulted

An informal consultation process has taken place with relevant parties

Consultees

BFC Legal and Finance teams, Activate Learning (nursery operators) and the 3 Priestwood and Garth ward Councillors

Contact: Cherry Hall, Head of Early Years and Childcare Email: cherry.hall@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 312811, Chris Taylor, Head of Education Capital and Property Email: chris.taylor@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 354062.

Publication date: 20/07/2021

Date of decision: 09/06/2021

Effective from: 28/07/2021

Accompanying Documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk