Borden Village Pre School Consultation
29th September to 20th October 2025
Dear Parents/Carers, Pupils, Staff, Governors, and Other Interested Parties
Proposal
Our Community Multi Academy Trust is proposing to extend the age range of Borden CE Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age. The proposed implementation date, if the proposal is approved, will be the 20th April 2026.
Background
Borden CE Primary School is proposing to extend the age range of the school from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age to incorporate Borden Village Pre-school as part of the primary school.
If approved, the pre-school would continue to operate from the purpose-built building which is situated on the opposite side of the road from the school. The children attending the pre-school would be registered on the school roll.
Parents would still need to make a separate application to Kent County Council for a place in the Reception Class.
Borden CE Primary School has enjoyed a long-standing, positive relationship with Borden Village preschool, establishing an effective partnership that has benefited children and families transitioning primarily to Borden CE Primary School, as well as to Bredgar CE Primary School and The Oaks Infant School — both of which are part of Our Community Multi Academy Trust.
Benefits of the proposal
The school will be able to continue to build strong partnerships and relationships with parents across the community at the earliest opportunity. This will enable the school to both support the early development of the children and the early identification of need which is critical to their future successes. Our commitment to the strongest start will also enable a smooth and fluid transition into our school Reception class. As pre-school children will be on the school roll, protocols around information sharing will be straightforward.
The pre-school team will be able to access all the resources and activities that are available through both the school and the capacity that the Trust brings. This will include a well-established and collaborative EYFS network that engages in joint moderation, training, and the sharing of best practices — a network that Borden Village Preschool would be actively involved in and contribute to. Furthermore, Our Community Multi Academy Trust benefits from a dedicated Trust EYFS and Phonics Lead, who would enhance the existing provision and help the setting continue to grow and thrive.
All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for the ‘universal’ early years funded childcare (up to 15 hours per week) from the start of the funding period following their third birthday until they start school (usually at statutory school age – the term following their fifth birthday).
3 or 4 year olds of eligible working parents can get an additional 570 hours of funded childcare (up to 30 hours per week)
A 2-year-old can receive funded childcare if the parent/carer lives in England and is entitled to qualifying benefits.
Staff
If the proposal is approved, qualified early years staff will be employed directly by the Academy Trust. A school is required to work to the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework that governs the ratios and qualifications of staffing.
Process and Decision-making
The consultation period will run from the 29th September 2025 to the 20th October 2025. All responses to this consultation will be carefully considered by the School and Our Community Multi Academy Trust before any decision is made by the Academy Trust to submit an application to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the age range of the school from 4-11 to 2-11.
If a decision is made to proceed with the proposal, following consideration of the consultation responses, an application will be made to the Department for Education (DfE) South East Regions Group. It is the DfE’s South East’s Region Group who will make the final decision on the proposal to change the age range of Borden CE Primary school from 4-11 to 2-11. The DfE will make this decision after considering responses received to the consultation and the application submitted by the Academy Trust. Please note that consultation responses will also therefore be shared with the DfE South East Regions Group.
Capital and planning
This proposal will not affect the Published Admission Number (PAN) for the school, nor the capacity for school aged children, and will not put pressure on classroom space for school aged children.
Responding to the consultation
This consultation will run from 29th September 2025 to 20th October 2025 The Trust welcome responses on this proposal by the closing date of 20th October 2025.
There are two ways to respond to this consultation:
- In writing: Borden CE Primary School, School Lane, Sittingbourne. ME9 8JS
- https://forms.office.com/e/TiuHTQdGRK
All responses to the consultation will be considered and will be shared with the school and trust leadership team and the Board of Directors. Responses will also be shared with the Department for Education as the decision-maker, but we will not send individual responses to any specific points made.
Kind Regards
Miss Georgie Ingram, Executive Headteacher
