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Cabinet RESOLVED
to:
 
2.1       note the findings
from the MNS review at Appendix 1.
 
2.2       note that the
current model of Croydon’s MNS is not financially sustainable
to guarantee their future viability as funding is insufficient to
cover the costs in some of the MNS, alongside declining birth
rate. 
 
2.3       approve
Croydon’s new operating model for its MNS, which is for each
MNS to establish, at least, a ‘soft’ federation -
formally collaborate - with the governing body of a primary school,
special school, or academy trust through a Service Level Agreement
(SLA). This is in line with Model – Aii – referred to in the MNS review at
Appendix 1.
 
2.4       note that three of
Croydon’s MNS – Thornton Heath, Tunstall, and Purley
– are already linked successfully to a primary school via an
SLA or a federation and have a balanced budget.
 
2.5       note that the other
two MNS – Federation of Crosfield and Selhurst – are
not linked to a primary school and have a deficit budget.
 
2.6       strongly recommend
that the Governing Body of the Federation of Crosfield and Selhurst
Nursery Schools accept and support Croydon’s new operating
model for MNS and start the process immediately to establish a
‘soft’ federation with a primary school, special
school, or academy trust through a Service Level Agreement (SLA),
by January 2025.
 
2.7       authorise officers
to work with Crosfield and Selhurst (Federation) Nursery schools to
broker and identify a suitable primary school, special school or
academy trust to create a ‘soft’ federation through an
agreed Service Level Agreement. If the Federation of Crosfield and
Selhurst, does not respond positively, robustly, or rapidly to the
recommendation by the Council and the requirement to achieve a
balanced budget by the 2025/26 financial year then the Council
could intervene by issuing a warning notice to the governing body
and appoint an Interim Executive Board (IEB) on the grounds of poor
financial management.
 
2.8       As a consequence of
recommendations 2.6 and 2.7, confirm that, if the MNS follow
these proposal the need to reduce the
number of Maintained Nursery Schools in Croydon through closures or
mergers, will not be pursued, at this stage.