What this consultation is about
We're intending to propose to close the nursery school.
This is known as the pre-publication consultation period.
If we propose to the LEA for the school to close, we would be required to publish a formal notice and consult prior to a formal decision being made.
It includes:
- details of the rationale behind the proposal
- the dates and times of information sessions where you can find out more
- a link to the online consultation document (paper copies are also available)
Introduction and background
Following much discussion, we have decided to consult on the proposal to close Gamesley Early Excellence Centre.
If agreed, the proposal would mean that Gamesley Early Excellence Centre would close at the end of August 2026. This consultation will run from 8 September 2025 until 24 October 2025, during which time you are invited to respond to our proposal.
We are holding an open information session. You may wish to attend this before responding to the consultation. This will take place at the school as follows:
- Parent Forum: open question and answer with the headteacher, governor representatives and our officers on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 2:15pm at Gamesley Primary School
Your views are extremely important to us, so please either access the consultation online at gamesleyeec.org.uk or you can ask for a paper copy from the school reception.
Please send your responses to Amy Warhurst, email amy.warhurst@derbyshire.gov.uk or post to:
Amy Warhurst
Development Section
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AG
Or you can hand any responses in a sealed envelope, marked ‘Consultation – Amy Warhurst’ to the school office.
All consultation responses must be completed and returned by 24 October 2025 at 3pm.
All responses will be considered before deciding whether to request that we consider the closure of Gamesley Early Excellence Centre.
Amy Warhurst, assistant education officer
Consultation on possible closure of Gamesley Early Excellence Centre
The staff and children of the Gamesley Early Excellence Centre Nursery relocated into the building of Gamesley Primary School in the Summer of 2023.
The 2 schools now operate side by side in the building and share the same Executive Headteacher, Special Educational Needs Coordinator and Pastoral Manager.
Gamesley Early Excellence Centre Nursery relocated to Gamesley Primary School due to the increase of running costs at the building that they were originally located in.
Alongside this consultation, Gamesley Primary School have successfully applied, through a significant change application to the Department of Education (DfE) to extend their age range to ensure that, if the outcome of the consultation determines that Gamesley Early Excellence School will close, the provision will be formally undertaken by Gamesley Primary School. This will guarantee a continuous service provision.
If the nursery school was to be formally undertaken by Gamesley School, the nursery would become more financially sustainable, and the nursery would feel more inclusive due to being part of Gamesley School. There would be consistency in the approach to learning and the curriculum across the whole school, which would increase the nursery children’s readiness for starting in Reception.
The nursery school would no longer be a maintained nursery school.
Conclusion and proposals
Consider the closure of Gamesley Early Excellence Centre and support the extension of age range at Gamesley Primary School so there is no loss of provision.
Existing pupils registered at Gamesley Early Excellence Centre to be registered within Gamesley Primary School.
All comments received in response to this consultation to be reported to Cabinet Members of the LA (anticipated December 2025) to enable a decision on whether to proceed to a statutory consultation.