Agenda item

Following earlier consultation, the above Regulations were laid before Parliament on 25^th November, 2004.

The meeting was reminded of a previous discussion at SOC which related to a proposal to amend the Education (School Organisation Committees)(England) Regulations 1999.  This specifically concerned the make-up of the schools group and the addition of a nursery schools representative.

The wording of the proposals in the consultation documentation seemed to be confusing and, in places, contradictory.

DfES had now taken into consideration the views of Rotherham LEA and, as a result, removed the contradiction of nursery representatives when nursery schools are less than 5% of the pupil population.

The provision relating to the addition of a nursery representative will come into effect on 1^st February, 2005, and, although the wording is now clear, the position in Rotherham needs to be clarified.

The position in terms of the membership of the schools group is as follows:-

The number of members must be at least 1 and no more than 7, except that in some instances the membership may have to exceed 7 in order to comply with the provisions contained within the Schedule to the1999 Regulations (N.B. the latter does not apply in Rotherham).

When setting up the schools group in Rotherham, the LEA had decided to appoint 7 members even though the minimum number required (by reference to the Schedule) would have been just 3 (i.e. 1 Primary, 1 Secondary and 1 Special).   This had been in order to give a broader cross-section of views.

The minimum required under the new Regulations is 4 (same as above, plus the new Nursery representative).

Rotherham’s current membership is as follows:-

                                                1 Secondary (11-16)

                                                1 Secondary (11-19)

                                                2 Primary (J & I/Primary)

                                                1 Primary (Infant)

                                                1 Primary (Junior)

                                                1 Special

The addition of a Nursery representative has the potential to increase the membership to 8 which would not be possible under the Regulations.  Currently, however, the 11-16 schools representative (Mr. Alan Walker) is also a member of the Governing Body for the Arnold Centre and, therefore, can represent both.  This would leave the number of members at 7.

The meeting was asked to consider whether this is the best way forward despite the fact that Mr. Walker has not been elected as a Nursery representative. 

If it is believed to be the best way forward, the question posed for this meeting was what did SOC think the make-up of the group should be, in the event of Mr. Walker ceasing to be a member of SOC in the future?

In the case of Rotherham it would be a representative for Rawmarsh, Arnold and Aughton Nurseries who now have their own Governing Bodies.

The meeting discussed the following issues:-

-                       impact of the Children’s Centres in terms of the changing role of Nurseries

-                       Private Nurseries

Resolved:-    (1)  That no action be taken on the potential additional nursery representative position at the present time.

(2)  That a further report be made to the next meeting.