Port Glasgow nursery leadership change
PLANS for a new leadership model at a Port Glasgow nursery have been agreed.
At a meeting of Inverclyde Council’s education and communities committee, members gave the go-ahead for Newark Nursery School to become a standalone early learning centre led by a new head of centre, subject to the outcome of a public consultation.
With the current head teacher due to retire in April 2025, the local authority has taken the opportunity to review the existing arrangements ahead of the 2025/26 term.
Three options were considered as part of an informal consultation that ran in late 2024 and, following feedback from parents, staff, members of the public, and advice from education officers, the council is proposing that the nursery now becomes Newark Early Learning Centre and that they recruit a new head of centre.
A statutory consultation has now launched to give people the opportunity to have their say on the proposal and will run until Monday 10 March 2025.
There will also be a public meeting on Thursday 20 February 2025 at 6.30pm at Newark Primary School.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “The current nursery school head teacher is retiring which provides an opportunity for a review of the current early years provision and particularly the leadership model.
“Following careful consideration of what’s best for young people and staff and taking into account feedback received during the recent informal consultation, the preferred option is for the nursery to become a standalone early learning centre under the leadership of a new head of centre.
“While the plan is for a change of name and leadership model, the key thing to remember is that there will be no impact to the young people who attend Newark or who will soon be going there.
“The expert advice from our education service based on recent experiences is that the proposed new early learning centre model is the best way forward for Newark and gives us the best opportunity to recruit a leader for the establishment.
“But it’s important that we also get feedback from parents, staff and others with a vested interest and I encourage people to have their say during this consultation period.”
The nursery shares a campus with Newark Primary School and currently provides early learning and childcare for 80 children aged 3-5 years.
Family support services are provided within the school and the community.
For more information and to take part in the survey, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/yoursay.