Proposed Changes to Bentilee Nursery School

Pre-publication Consultation

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s strategy, Our City, Our Wellbeing, aims to give children the best start in life. We value early education and focus on creating a fairer City (reducing inequality and improving life chances) and a skilled City (helping people develop skills and education).

Maintained nursery schools are run by local authorities and provide early years education for children aged two to four during term time. They must operate like schools, with a headteacher, qualified teachers, a governing body, and a SENCO.

Bentilee Nursery School is the only maintained nursery school in Stoke-on-Trent. It is based at Bentilee Family Hub and shares the site with a private nursery for 0–5-year-olds.

What are we proposing and why?

We are consulting on future options for Bentilee Nursery School.

Maintained nursery schools nationally face financial challenges because they have the same requirements as schools but fewer pupils, making sustainability difficult.

Bentilee Nursery School has had a budget deficit since 2021–22, meaning it spends more than it receives. Despite efforts to reduce costs, the school continues to run at a loss.

We propose transferring the nursery’s provision from the local authority to either:

  • An Academy Trust, or
  • A Third-party provider (private, voluntary, or independent).

Our aim is to keep early years places open and avoid closure by finding a sustainable delivery model. Doing nothing is not an option.

 

Current Provision

Term-time only: 9am–3pm (except Wednesday: 8:30am–3:15pm

Two part-week classes:

  • Monday and Tuesday 9am–3pm, Wednesday 8:30–11:30am
  • Wednesday 12:15–3:15pm, Thursday and Friday 9am–3pm

Most children attend 15 hours per week, but 30-hour places are available.

  • Ages: from the term after their 2nd birthday until reception year.
  • Capacity: 78 children. Numbers rise through the year (e.g., 39 in Autumn, 65 in Summer). Currently, 51 children attend.

Future Delivery Model

We are exploring options for the nursery to be run by:

  • An Academy Trust, or
  • A Third-party provider (private, voluntary, independent, charity, or community group).

Have your say or register interest

We welcome feedback from anyone with an interest or who will be affected by the proposals:

  • Parents/carers
  • Nursery staff
  • Local residents
  • Early years providers and schools

The consultation will run from Wednesday 7 January to midnight on Wednesday 18 February.

Ways to respond to the consultation:

Drop-in sessions at Bentilee Family Hub:

  • Monday 12 January - 9.30-11:30am

  • Friday 16 January - 9-11am

  • Wednesday 28 January - 2.30-5pm

Need this in another format or language? Email: BNS.consultation@stoke.gov.uk

Want to register your interest to operate the nursery?

Email an expression of interest with your proposal to: BNS.consultation@stoke.gov.uk.

How your feedback helps

Your views will help us to decide the future of Bentilee Nursery School.
Cabinet will make a decision on 21 April 2026. A summary of feedback will be included in the Cabinet report.