Proposal to lower the age range of Heather Ridge Infant School

Results updated 25 Jun 2025

25 June 2025 - update from Heather Ridge Infant School:

We are writing to inform you of an important decision made by the Governing Board of Heather Ridge Infant School regarding a change to the school's age range.

The Governing Board has formally approved a change to the school's age range. Heather Ridge Infant School will expand its provision to include children from the age of 2 years, thereby adjusting the school's age range from 4–7 years to 2–7 years.

The decision was made after consideration and discussion of a variety of evidence, and the potential impact on the school, that included: the consultation response provided by Surrey County Council; the market research carried out by the school; financial models; the provision offered and the future intentions of other local infant/primary schools; the latest government guidance; and the birth rate forecasts locally. 

This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting early childhood development. By extending our provision to younger children, we aim to:

• Enhance school readiness through high-quality, teacher led, early years education. 

• Provide continuity of care and learning for children from age 2 through to the end of Key Stage 1.

• Offer families a trusted, nurturing environment from an earlier stage in their children’s development.

Further information on place numbers available for the age 2 to 4 age group and the date when these will become available will be shared as soon as possible.

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The Department for Education’s (DfE) latest guidance “making significant changes (‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools” published in March 2025, states that there is no longer a requirement for local authorities and governing bodies to follow the statutory prescribed alterations (‘change of age range’) process when they want to make changes to a school’s age range specifically in order to add, remove or change existing nursery provision.

As a result, the decision to proceed with the proposal to lower the age range of Heather Ridge Infant School is now the remit of the school’s governing body. In line with this, the consultation responses and full analysis will now be passed on to the school and governing body.

Once a decision has been made, the outcome will be published on the school’s website within three months of the end date of the consultation.

Statement from Heather Ridge Infant School:

Governors are currently taking the necessary time to thoroughly review the findings from the recent consultation, alongside our own market research and financial forecasting. This comprehensive analysis is essential to ensure any decision made regarding the proposed change to the age criteria at Heather Ridge is both sustainable and provides high quality educational provision for families within the community into the future. We remain committed to a thoughtful and informed approach, and we will communicate further updates as the process moves forward.

Files:

• Consultation Analysis, 395.0 KB (PDF document)
• Questions & Answers, 90.8 KB (PDF document)