Decision details

Blandford Nursery Transfer 

That the ownership and management of the Dorset Council run Nursery and Oscar’s Out of School Club in Blandford in its current form, be transferred to The Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT), in order to expand the provision at Archbishop Wake CE Primary School and enhance the educational offer to create a single school from 0 years, through to 11 years.

Dorset Council operate a nursery and after-school/holiday club provision in Blandford: 

• Blandford Nursery   

• Oscars after school and holiday club, Blandford   

These settings are Dorset Council managed childcare provision and are not ‘Maintained Nursery Schools’ (MNS). A MNS is legally constituted as a school with a head teacher, governing body, delegated budget and at least one teacher with Qualified Teacher Status.   

Dorset Council has a duty to ensure that sufficient childcare is available for parents (market position statement), but we have no statutory obligation to provide childcare ourselves. Most local authorities have withdrawn from this area of activity.   

Most childcare settings are run by the private sector, voluntary organisations, or schools. These types of organisations are expertly placed to run thriving childcare settings with the dedicated leadership, experience, resources, and skills to do this effectively.     

These provisions have historically run at a deficit. The settings should be cost neutral and are not allocated funding in a budget; expenditure should be covered by income. This is not the case for our settings, and the budget deficit continues to rise.  

For the last 18 months, we have experienced a difficulty in receiving suitably qualified applicants for advertised positions particularly in Blandford. We have explored a number of avenues to attract the right candidates, and this has recently proved successful resulting in a full complement of qualified staff. Staff vacancies or illness often have an impact on other areas of the business calling upon qualified staff from Family Help Teams to support the continued operation of the services, shifting staffing pressures elsewhere across Children’s Services. 

In March 2023 Children’s Services Leadership Team conducted an options appraisal against 2 key objectives for the settings. Only options 2 and 3 meet both objectives  

No interests declared.

There are two main financial benefits:

• To Dorset Council through reduced exposure to potential overspends,  

• To the childcare settings who would likely benefit from improved financial stability because they would be run by organisations that are expertly placed to deliver these services  

Blandford Nursery, including the Oscars Out of School provision have historically operated with a deficit. The deficit position formed part of the LA’s overall overspend that was financed from the general fund reserve.  This is not sustainable or equitable as Dorset Council operated childcare settings are not available elsewhere in the county.

Most childcare settings are run by the private sector, voluntary organisations, or schools. These types of organisations are expertly placed to run thriving childcare settings with the dedicated leadership, experience, resources, and skills to do this effectively. Thriving childcare settings under these conditions are likely to be financially stable and solvent.  

The transfer of the provisions has been carefully planned in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Key legal implications have been fully considered and addressed, including: 

• Approval and Oversight: The transfer has been approved by Dorset Council Cabinet. 

• Phased Due Diligence: A thorough due diligence process has been undertaken, covering educational provision, staffing, financial health, and estate conditions to ensure a smooth and compliant transition. 

• Employment Protections (TUPE): The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) have been applied, safeguarding staff rights and ensuring proper consultation with employees and trade unions. 

• Asset and Funding Agreements: a formal lease agreement has been put in place, securing the Multi-Academy Trust’s legal right to occupy and operate from the premises. 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Engagement with staff, parents, and the wider community has been prioritised to ensure transparency and support throughout the process.