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Primary Strategy - Millions Extra to Spend on our Primary Schools

Millions of pounds of extra funding are being made available to invest in Primary Education across Cheshire.

Cheshire County Council is due to receive over £14m for its Primary Schools between 2009-2011, and about £4m for each of the following 12 years as part of the Government's 14 year national primary capital strategy.

This cash is designed to help the County's Primary Schools meet the demands of a 21st Century curriculum through rebuilding or substantially renovating existing schools, particularly in areas of high social disadvantage, as well as addressing surplus places and raising standards.

To be eligible for this investment, Cheshire County Council has to submit a strategy for change to the Government in June of this year. This should have broad support from schools, diocesan authorities and other stakeholders.

Cheshire County Council is one of England's largest rural counties with 275 primary schools, many of which are small schools in relatively sparsely populated areas. The County Council's aim is to deliver a capital strategy which addresses the needs of both its rural and urban Primary Schools.

Following the Local Government  Reorganisation decision to create two Unitary Authorities for East and West Cheshire, the County Council will prepare a strategy for each new Unitary Council.

Over the 14 year time period the Government expects approximately 5% of the worst condition schools to be rebuilt and at least 45% of Primary Schools to be substantially refurbished. While the funding for Cheshire in 2009-2011 will cover only a small number of Primary Schools, all the schools will continue to benefit from existing programmes of capital investment from the County Council and Central Government.

The Government has set out certain key criteria that the County Council must consider when deciding how to spend the money. These criteria include:-

• The condition and suitability of buildings
• Raising standards
• Focusing expenditure on areas of high deprivation
• The requirement to reduce surplus school places

The Council will use this new programme to support existing programmes to provide an overall joined up approach to capital investment. Existing priorities will continue to be a focus for expenditure including the development of extended service provision, the link with Children Centres, promoting collaboration between schools, the review of Special Educational Needs and addressing the Every Child Matters developments.

The County Council is well placed to respond positively to this new national initiative and much of the necessary work is already being addressed through the Transforming Learning Communities Reviews.

Joan Feenan, the Council's Director of Children's Services said "this programme is a unique opportunity to help us build on the substantial investment already being made in our primary schools. We want to hear the views of parents or other interested parties to ensure that we have a broad range of views to help shape the future of primary education across Cheshire".

Consultation will take place until June, see below for contact details. The outcome of this will be considered by the County Council's Executive before being submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Part of the Government's Strategy is to ask Council's to consider alternative providers for the establishment of new schools. Any potential providers should contact the Council at the address below:

Primary Strategy Team
Room 421
Children's Services
County Hall
Chester
CH1 1SF

tlcteam@cheshire.gov.uk  :: Click here to take part in the online consultation  

Useful Links

Cheshire's Children & Young Peoples Plan 2008 - 2011
A Case for Change

Cheshire Primary Strategy Submission
Cheshire West & Chester Primary Strategy Submisison
Cheshire East Primary Strategy Submission