Council to consult on closure of some nursery classes
Wednesday, 13th October 2010.
A new admissions policy for schools which comes into force next year could lead to the closure of some nursery classes.
At Suffolk County Council’s cabinet meeting yesterday, a decision was made to address the implications of the change to the pattern of admissions into the reception year from September 2011.
The revised Admissions Code will require admissions authorities to offer a full time reception place to all children from the September after their fourth birthday.
The county council will be holding a formal consultation process on the potential closure of nursery classes at schools where a surplus of places in the locality has been agreed upon.
Other decisions made by the council's cabinet yesterday covered the areas of street lighting and concessionary bus passes.
* The cabinet decided to approve the funding of a new intelligent lighting system to allow lights at night time to either be turned off or dimmed across Suffolk in 2012.
The system will allow the council to switch off some of its streetlights between midnight and 5.30am and dim the lights in busier areas including main roads and major interchanges.
The council will be consulting with stakeholders including local parish, town and district councils about how best to implement the new system in their areas.
The system is an 'invest to save' project, saving taxpayers' money in the reduction of energy bills that the council has to pay. By investing in the new system, the council would make annual energy savings of £550,000 per year.
* The cabinet decided that, in line with the expected funding from Government, the only affordable option on concessionary bus passes for the council was to provide the national statutory scheme, which is free bus travel from the hours of 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays, plus two further enhancements - local bus service enhancements together with a taxi voucher scheme for those who are eligible by remoteness or disability to waive their right to a free bus pass.
If you already hold a bus pass you will receive a letter direct on how the changes will affect the use of the pass and you will also receive a letter if your bus pass expires before March 31, 2011, letting you know what you need to do.
There is also an information line, 0845 600 0659, which will be kept up to date with changes to the new scheme and how you can apply for a pass.
At Suffolk County Council’s cabinet meeting yesterday, a decision was made to address the implications of the change to the pattern of admissions into the reception year from September 2011.
The revised Admissions Code will require admissions authorities to offer a full time reception place to all children from the September after their fourth birthday.
The county council will be holding a formal consultation process on the potential closure of nursery classes at schools where a surplus of places in the locality has been agreed upon.
Other decisions made by the council's cabinet yesterday covered the areas of street lighting and concessionary bus passes.
* The cabinet decided to approve the funding of a new intelligent lighting system to allow lights at night time to either be turned off or dimmed across Suffolk in 2012.
The system will allow the council to switch off some of its streetlights between midnight and 5.30am and dim the lights in busier areas including main roads and major interchanges.
The council will be consulting with stakeholders including local parish, town and district councils about how best to implement the new system in their areas.
The system is an 'invest to save' project, saving taxpayers' money in the reduction of energy bills that the council has to pay. By investing in the new system, the council would make annual energy savings of £550,000 per year.
* The cabinet decided that, in line with the expected funding from Government, the only affordable option on concessionary bus passes for the council was to provide the national statutory scheme, which is free bus travel from the hours of 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays, plus two further enhancements - local bus service enhancements together with a taxi voucher scheme for those who are eligible by remoteness or disability to waive their right to a free bus pass.
If you already hold a bus pass you will receive a letter direct on how the changes will affect the use of the pass and you will also receive a letter if your bus pass expires before March 31, 2011, letting you know what you need to do.
There is also an information line, 0845 600 0659, which will be kept up to date with changes to the new scheme and how you can apply for a pass.
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