Proposal to lower the age range of Heather Ridge Infant School

Closed 25 Mar 2025

Opened 25 Feb 2025

Contact

Lauren Comer

(NW Commissioning Manager )

Education Place Planning

schoolorg@surreycc.gov.uk

Results updated 2 May 2025

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:

Overview

Surrey County Council and the Governing Body of Heather Ridge Infant School are proposing to lower the age range of Heather Ridge Infant School in Camberley from 4 to 7 years to 2 to 7 years. This will allow the school to open a school-based nursery to include 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.

Why your views matter

We are now undertaking a consultation on this proposed lowering of age range at Heather Ridge Infant School. The Related Documents below contain the detailed proposal.

Please let us know what you think about the proposals

  • either by completing the Online Survey
  • or by using the response form in the Related Documents below.

Closing date

This consultation is open from Tuesday 25 February to Tuesday 25 March 2025.

Privacy statement

Any personal information you choose to provide will be kept confidential and used in accordance with our privacy notice.

Accessibility  

You can find our accessibility policy here. If you require the survey in a different format, language or in hard copy (including a stamped addressed envelope to return the survey), please contact Surrey County Council as follows:

What happens next

We will hold a public meeting at the school for parents and any other interested parties to discuss the proposals and to hear the views that people have.  

The meeting will be held on Monday 10 March at 13:45, at Heather Ridge Infant School. 

Please come along to share your views and ask questions. You do not have to have a child at the school to attend the meeting.

Due to the volume of responses received during the consultation period, it has taken longer than anticipated to collate and analyse all of the data to create a comprehensive analysis.

This page will be updated at the beginning of the summer term with a copy of the analysis and details of the next steps.

Events

  • Public Meeting - Heather Ridge Infant School

    From 10 Mar 2025 at 13:45 to 10 Mar 2025 at 14:45

    A public meeting at the school for parents and any other interested parties to discuss the proposals and to hear the views that people have.

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

Areas

  • Surrey Heath

Audiences

  • Young people
  • Children in care
  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Social workers
  • Youth workers
  • Health professionals working with children
  • Councillors, MPs
  • Children with disabilities
  • Carers
  • Headteachers
  • Children's Centres
  • All residents

Interests

  • 0-5 year olds
  • Disabilities
  • Parents and families
  • Staff