Berkhamsted primary schools 'must find 180 extra places'

By LaraKing | Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 11:41

Two primary schools in Berkhamsted could be forced to find hundreds of extra spaces to deal with a shortage in nursery places.

Greenway First School may have to create 90 extra nursery places

Under county council proposals, Westfield First School in Durrants Lane, which currently has 182 pupils aged three to nine, would be asked to take an additional 30 three- and four-year-olds from September this year and up to another 60 from September next year.

Greenway First and Nursery School in Crossways, which currently accommodates 282 pupils in the same age range, would also have to find space for up to 90 more children in its nursery from September next year.

An extra 15 nursery places were created at Greenway last September after a campaign by parents, taking the total from 45 to 60.

If the changes are not made, Hertfordshire County Council predicts that by 2013 almost a quarter of three- and four-year-olds in Berkhamsted will have to to travel to nurseries and reception classes in other areas due to an 'unexpected surge' in numbers.

The only other town in the county facing such a severe deficit of maintained nursery places is Hatfield.

A total of 21 primary schools across Hertfordshire are being considered for expansion, and the plans are open for consultation until February 18.

Nursery applications for the September 2011 intake can be made online from February 21.

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Comments

Same mob who recently predicted there would be a shortage of children and started closing schools.
To be fair, even my crystal ball struggles trying to predict what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone the time taken to conceive, produce and allow a couple of years to grow a bit - that's about 3 years. As local Councils work in 4 year cycles, it's really asking too much I think.

By N Cutting at 19:20 on 12/01/11
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Good job the council plans to build so many new houses. With lots of new families and no extra schools there should be no problem!

No, wait....

By El_burro_loco at 13:17 on 12/01/11
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"If the changes are not made, Hertfordshire County Council predicts that by 2013 almost a quarter of three- and four-year-olds in Berkhamsted will have to to travel to nurseries and reception classes in other areas due to an 'unexpected surge' in numbers."

I thought we paid the County to solve problems - not tell us what the problems are likely to be ! "Unexpected surge in numbers" indeed.... families with young children are not the most mobile section of society, so they've got 3 years or so to find a cost-effective solution..... cue much sitting on hands at County Hall !

By crozzie at 12:32 on 12/01/11
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