Plans To Open New Reception Class At Ely School To Cope With Demand For Spaces

AN Ely school plans to open a new class to cope with a high demand for spaces.

Spring Meadow Infant and Nursery School will open the class in September, to prevent reception-age youngsters being sent outside of the city.

The decision to open the extra class at Spring Meadow, rather than at one of the other Ely primary schools, was made following consultation with the head teacher and governors of the school and school admissions officers from Cambridgeshire County Council. The other primary schools in Ely have been kept informed throughout the process and support the decision.

The extra class, which will cater for between 20 and 30 children who would otherwise be without places in Ely schools this September, will operate initially from a mobile classroom for a year. Parents of the children concerned have been notified of the decision.

Spring Meadow was described by OFSTED in a recent inspection as "a good school which is successful in raising standards and achievement for its children".

Inspectors particularly praised the effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the leadership and management of the school.

County councillor David Harty, cabinet member for learning, said: "This is a good solution to a difficult situation. The last thing we want to do is transport young children out of Ely to schools in surrounding villages, some of which are up to 20 miles away. I believe it is important that they go to schools within the city, and I am very pleased that the head teachers of all the schools concerned have come to this sensible agreement, which I believe is in the best interests of the children and their families.