Last updated at 11:48, Thursday, 06 December 2012

Nursery classes will be formally created at two village schools after Cumbria County Council’s cabinet today approved plans for extending the age range of pupils.

Newton Community School near Barrow and Irthington Village Community School near Brampton both applied to Cumbria County Council for permission to cater for nursery children by increasing the age range to three to 11-years-old from four to 11.

To gauge local views on extending the age ranges, the county council carried out a consultation this summer with staff, parents, governors, the local community and neighbouring schools.

With Newton School, 98 per cent of respondents were in favour of the proposals to extend the age range, while in Irthington, 96 per cent supported the changes.

Today (6 December) cabinet gave the go-ahead to approve the statutory proposals that will see the new school age ranges come into effect from January 2013.

Councillor Duncan Fairbairn, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “These changes are aimed at meeting expected future levels of demand for places and the educational needs of children.

“The provision of nursery classes at both schools will also allow nursery pupils to mix and engage with children from their community at an early age and give parents nursery facilities closer to home.

“The consultation we carried out showed overwhelming local support for the changes at both schools, so I’m delighted we’ve been able to give them the go-ahead.”

First published at 11:44, Thursday, 06 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk