Decision details

That the outcome of the options appraisal be noted.

That the proposal to undertake market testing of nursery provision be agreed.

That the outcomes of the market testing of nursery provision be reported to a future meeting of Education PDS Committee.

The Education PDS Committee considered a report at its meeting on 19^th March 2013 in relation to the nursery provision run by the Local Authority at the Community Vision and Blenheim nurseries.  The report proposed that both nurseries be placed on a trading account basis to gain a better understanding of the operating costs to the Local Authority of the direct provision of nursery places, and that an options appraisal be undertaken to consider the delivery of this nursery provision into the future.

The two nurseries were moved onto a trading account basis from April 2013 with separate budgets established.  The options appraisal for the future delivery of the Community Vision and Blenheim nurseries has also been completed with a range of options considered, including making no change to the existing service, the closure of both nurseries and market testing of nursery provision.