Steps taken to protect the future of early years provision in Bentilee

Stoke-on-Trent City Council are taking steps to secure high quality early years and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision for families in the city.

Bentilee Nursery School has served its community for many years, but due to the requirement to operate as a school, pupil numbers and rising costs mean it could face a £185,710 deficit this year. Projections show this could increase to more than £340,000 by 2027/28 if no action is taken.

The city council is therefore proposing a new way of delivering services that keeps early years support in the community while making it more sustainable for the future.

The proposals aim to maintain local access to early education while strengthening support for children with additional needs.

There are plans to expand specialist support by creating a dedicated SEND nursery for children up to the age of five on the existing Bentilee site. The proposal is that it would be run by either a Private, Voluntary or Independent Early Years Provider or an Academy Trust and would significantly increase nursery place capacity in the city for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

Under the plans, nursery place capacity would be available at other providers in the area, notably Maple Court Academy and Eaton Park within Alpha Academies Trust, where nearly 60 percent of children attending Bentilee Nursery School move on to one of these two schools for primary education.

The proposals come as Bentilee and Ubberley are among three communities in Stoke-on-Trent selected to take part in the government’s Pride in Place programme, with more than £20 million to be invested over the next decade in community-led regeneration, including opportunities for young people.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We are committed to protecting the future of high-quality early years provision in Bentilee. Every child deserves the best start in life, and these proposals will ensure early services will continue to be delivered in the community, whilst specialist SEND provision at nursery level is increased – this will mean all children get the right support they need to thrive.”

The council’s cabinet will consider launching a full statutory consultation for the community to have their say. No final decisions have been made, and a final recommendation will be brought to Cabinet in July once all responses have been reviewed.