Oldbury school extension plan to boost early years provision
Teachers and toddlers at a Black Country school could move out of a former staff office with little natural light and ventilation if an extension plan is agreed.
Christ Church School, in Albert Street, Oldbury, has submitted plans to create a new early years space.
In its application, the school said a staff office was converted into a classroom for two-year-olds and staff when it started providing early years places in 2012.
But this room has very little light and no natural ventilation while the location at the front of the school left them with little play area space and an entrance shared with visitors and vehicles.
If Sandwell Council planners approve, the new scheme will see an extension built next to the existing nursery building on the site.
The children and staff at the school were asked to help design their “dream classroom” with feedback showing they wanted something brighter, colourful and having ample display space.
Agents Apec Architects said: “Following a significant extension in 2012, Christ Church School gained funding to offer nursery places to two year-olds (Early Years).
“To accommodate this, the staff office was converted into a classroom, and the staff were relocated to a space with very little daylight and no natural ventilation.
“(It) also introduced Focus Provision, providing specialist support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in spaces available.
“The school has since experienced difficulties with the Early Years being located at the front of the site, as they have limited external play space, and access is only available from a route shared with vehicles and visitors.
“Nursery children also use the Early Years space in the afternoon, and currently have to be led outside and through the school to gain access.
“A feasibility study was undertaken to identify the school’s needs, appraise the whole site, and strategically identify changes that can be made to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the school and improve the overall quality of the school site.
“The outcomes of the feasibility study was a design brief to relocate Early Years and KS1 Focus Provision to an area of the site that enables them to share space with the nursery, including the larger external play space.
“Access would be available from the main pedestrian route through the site, as opposed to through the car park.
“The facilities would be designed bespoke to the children’s needs. This would also make available existing space with ample daylight to relocate the staff office.
