School: ‘Let us expand to take on two-year-olds’
A decision on whether two schools in Maidstone can proceed with expansion plans is due to be made by Kent County Council.
Greenfields Community Primary School is looking to expand its nursery to children as young as two-years-old.
The school, on Oxford Road, currently takes on youngsters aged between three and 11 but hopes to increase this from September.
The plans come with proposed building work to cater for the additional pupils which could be funded by a grant of up to £369,300 from the Department for Education.
Another school looking to expand its intake by more than 130 pupils is Five Acre Wood on Boughton Lane.
This comes in response to growing pressure for Special Educational Needs (SEN) places in Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling.
KCC with support from the school wants to increase the number of places from 465 to 600. This would include Satellite and Nursery provisions.
The county council says despite the increase, there is no requirement for further accommodation at the school.
Both proposed decisions come amid a forecast shortfall of school places in the two areas as explained in KCC’s latest education commissioning plan.
A decision on both schools is expected to be made by KCC’s children’s, young people and education committee, but not before May 5.
Cllr Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem) who represents South Ward at Maidstone council said: “In principle I would not object to the school increasing in size especially as it caters for disadvantaged children and there is a significant need for this type of facility.
“However considering Maidstone’s Local Plan is under review with a new government housing target for an increase of 40% with many sites put forward on or near the school any future housing proposals in the vicinity of Boughton Lane would be unacceptable.”