Public Notice - Prescribed alteration to age range at primary schools
Notice is given in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and section 5(1) of the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools)(England) Regulations 2013 that Wirral Council (‘the council’) is proposing to make a prescribed alteration to the following schools:
Greenleas Primary School, Green Lane, Wallasey, CH45 8LZ· which is a community primary school, as follows:
- change the lower age limit of Greenleas Primary School from 4 years to 2 years so as to offer maintained nursery provision with effect from 1 August 2025. The current age range is 4 to 11. The proposed age range is 2 to 11.
Brookhurst Primary School, Brookhurst Road, Wirral, CH63 0EH which is a community primary school, as follows:
- change the lower age limit of Brookhurst Primary School from 4 years to 2 years so as to offer maintained nursery provision with effect from 1 August 2025. The current age range is 4 to 11. The proposed age range is 2 to 11.
Leasowe Primary School, Oxley Avenue, Wirral, CH46 1RU which is a community primary school, as follows:
- change the lower age limit of Leasowe Primary School from 3 years to 2 years with effect from 1 August 2025. The current age range is 3 to 11. The proposed age range is 2 to 11.
These proposals are not linked.
Greenleas Primary School consultation
Following privately operated “Greenleas Pre-School” re-locating to a new site more than one mile away, the governing body of Greenleas Primary School set up early years provision on a temporary basis as a governor led (Section 27) pre-school. This has been successful and the governing body would now like to make this a permanent nursery class (Foundation 1).
Under this proposal, the early years provision would become maintained along with the rest of the school. This would enable Greenleas Primary School to improve communication and administration and bring the pre-school under the school umbrella as a maintained Nursery class. This would have no impact on the amount of early years places provided.
Demand for early years places on the site has been demonstrated. Integrating into the school will allow children in attendance to be registered as pupils of Greenleas Primary School This would enable the governing body to improve communication and administration and adopt a cohesive and consistent approach to learning right through to Year 6.
There would be no change to the number or location of places to be offered. The proposal would not alter Greenleas Primary School’s admission number for Foundation 2, or the admission arrangements. Attending a particular nursery or pre-school does not give any priority for admission to Greenleas Primary School in Foundation 2, and parents of nursery aged children would continue to need to apply in the usual way for admission to primary/infant schools.
There should not be any impact on other educational institutions locally or on traffic in the area as no additional places are being introduced. The existing pre-school accommodation will be used by the maintained nursery provision and there are no direct project costs associated with this proposal.
Brookhurst Primary School consultation
A non-maintained pre-school, “Stepping Stones Pre-School” operating from accommodation co-located on the school’s site is due to close at the end of July 2025. Under this proposal, the early years provision would become maintained along with the rest of the school. This would enable Brookhurst Primary School to improve communication and administration and bring the pre-school currently on site under the school umbrella as a maintained Nursery class. This would have no impact on the amount of early years places provided.
Stepping Stones Pre-School has been a popular provision within the local community who have shown the demand for early years places on the Brookhurst Primary School site. Integrating into the school will allow children in attendance to be registered as pupils of Brookhurst Primary School. This would enable the governing body to improve communication and administration and adopt a cohesive and consistent approach to learning right through to Year 6.
There would be no change to the number or location of places to be offered. The proposal would not alter Brookhurst Primary School’s admission number for Foundation 2, or the admission arrangements. Attending a particular nursery or pre-school does not give any priority for admission to Brookhurst Primary School in Foundation 2, and parents of nursery aged children would continue to need to apply in the usual way for admission to primary/infant schools.
There should not be any impact on other educational institutions locally or on traffic in the area as no additional places are being introduced. The existing pre-school accommodation will be used by the maintained nursery provision and there are no direct project costs associated with this proposal.
Leasowe Primary School consultation
Nursery education provides an excellent start to children’s development. By expanding the existing offer to include 2 year olds, the Governing body intend to provide an accessible option for families and create a strong foundation for children’s educational journey. High quality play-based provision for the 2 year olds in the nursery class will meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
There would be no change to the overall number or location of nursery places provided. The proposal would not alter Leasowe Primary School’s admission number for Foundation 2, or the admission arrangements. Attending a particular nursery or pre-school does not give any priority for admission to Leasowe Primary School in Foundation 2, and parents of nursery aged children would continue to need to apply in the usual way for admission to primary/infant schools.
There should not be any impact on other educational institutions locally or on traffic in the area. The nursery learning environment will be equipped with suitable furniture, equipment and resources for 2 year olds and any project related costs will be met by the governing body of the school.
Responding to the consultation
The proposals are not linked. Within four weeks of the date of publication of this notice, any person may object to, comment on or make representations regarding these proposals by submitting an email to schoolsconsultation@wirral.gov.uk with either “Greenleas Comment”; “Brookhurst Comment” or “Leasowe Comment” in the subject; or by post to:
Early Help and Prevention
Wirral Council
PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ
All comments, objections and representations must be received by 16 April 2025. The council will then take all views into consideration and make a determination regarding these proposals within 2 months. If the council does not make a determination within two months, the decision will be made by the Schools Adjudicator.
Director for Children, Families and Education
Published 19 March 2025