We are consulting from Monday 20th April until Monday 11th May for our School Based Nursery to open from September 2026 for two and three year olds. 

Please read the consultation letter below for more information. 

Consultation on a proposal to extend the age range of South Molton United Church of England Primary School

If you need this document in a different format or language, please contact Devon County Council’s School Consultation Team on 01392 382057 or via email: schoolconsultations@devon.gov.uk.

Proposal 

The Harbour Schools Partnership is consulting on a proposal to change the age range of South Molton United C of E Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age from September 2026. 

Background  

The Government is committed to creating or expanding school-based nurseries across England in line with the increase in early education and childcare entitlements.

South Molton United C of E Primary School is proposing to extend the age range of the school to provide high quality school-based nursery provision for children aged 2-4 years of age from September 2026.  

South Molton United C of E Primary School is planning on opening a twenty-eight place Nursery in a purpose-built classroom for two- and three-year-olds. The school-based Nursery will be separate from our Reception class and extend its existing popular and high-quality Early Years provision. The school will invest resources to ensure the internal and external spaces are fit for purpose, upgrading existing resources and adding an outdoor canopy to enable outdoor learning whatever the weather.

The proposal will not affect the net capacity of the school, or the PAN, or put pressure on classroom space for school-aged children.  The school was built with seven classrooms to enable a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 30, with an additional eighth classroom built for future nursery provision. The school has been using the eighth classroom for an additional bulge class, currently in Year 6, who will leave the school in July 2026. Predicted future in-area cohorts do not require the use of the additional classroom. Therefore, the Trust is now proposing to establish a Nursery Class. 

Children whose parents meet the free school meal eligibility criteria and attend for the whole day will be entitled to a free school meal. There is no lower age limit. Parents will also be able to purchase a school meal for nursery children. 

Parents would still need to make a separate application to Devon County Council for admission into the Reception class. 

The Harbour Schools Partnership has a great deal of experience in relation to supporting academy nursery provision across its schools.

Process and Decision-making 

The consultation period will run from 20^th April 2026 to 11^th May 2026

Responses to this consultation will be considered by the School and The Harbour Schools Partnership Trust, who will then decide whether or not to change the age range of the school.

The Trust welcome responses on this proposal by the closing date of midnight on 11^th May 2026 by:

Emailing: smups@thsp.org.uk please mark your email ‘Nursery Consultation’.

Or by writing to: South Molton United C of E Primary School, Exeter Road, South Molton, Devon, EX36 4EN.

All responses to the consultation will be considered and will be shared with the school’s leadership team, Board of Directors and Trustees, but we will not send individual responses to any specific points made. 

The Trust Privacy Notice can be found via this weblink:  

Privacy_Notice_2025-26_MATs_-_THSP_1.pdf