Consultation on Proposed Changes to City Academy Whitehawk Nursery Provision

Aurora Academies Trust (Aurora) is consulting on a proposal to extend the age range of City Academy Whitehawk from 2–11 years to birth–11 years from 1 September 2026.

This proposed change forms part of a wider proposal to transfer Roundabout Nursery from Brighton & Hove City Council to Aurora and make it part of the City Academy Whitehawk school community.

Why is this change being proposed?

Roundabout Nursery has been an important part of the Whitehawk community for many years. Aurora Academies Trust and Brighton & Hove City Council share a commitment to ensuring that high-quality early years provision continues to be available for local children and families for the long term.

Bringing the nursery into City Academy Whitehawk would help provide greater continuity for children from their earliest years through into primary education, while also supporting closer working between nursery and school staff.

The proposal aims to:

• help secure high-quality nursery provision for the Whitehawk community into the future
• provide children with a smooth and familiar transition into school
• strengthen links between nursery and school staff
• maintain a nurturing and inclusive environment for children and families
• support the long-term stability of the provision.

About Aurora Academies Trust

Aurora Academies Trust is a family of schools with experience of providing education and care for children from nursery age through to secondary school. The Trust already operates six nurseries as part of its school provision, and early years education is an important part of its work.

Aurora is committed to creating nurturing environments where children feel safe, valued and supported to learn and develop. The Trust recognises how important consistency is for children and families and intends to listen carefully to parents, carers and staff as plans develop.

For further information about Aurora, please visit: https://www.auroraacademies.org

Nursery fees

The nursery will continue to offer funded early education places in line with government guidance and Brighton & Hove City Council’s Early Years Free Entitlement requirements.

For additional hours outside funded entitlement, Aurora is committed to keeping nursery provision as accessible and affordable as possible for local families. There are currently no plans for significant fee increases, and any future changes would be carefully considered and communicated to parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is being proposed?

Aurora Academies Trust is proposing to extend the age range of City Academy Whitehawk from 2–11 years to birth–11 years from September 2026. This would allow Roundabout Nursery to become part of the City Academy Whitehawk school community.

Why is this change being proposed?

The proposal is intended to help secure high-quality nursery provision for the Whitehawk community into the future, strengthen links between nursery and school, and provide greater continuity for children and families.

When would the transfer take place?

Subject to approvals, the proposed transfer would take place from 1 September 2026.

Will nursery session times change?

There are currently no plans to make immediate changes to nursery session times or opening hours. Aurora recognises the importance of consistency and routine for children and families and will spend time understanding how the nursery currently operates before considering any future changes.

Will the nursery continue to operate all year round?

Yes. There are currently no plans to change the all-year-round nature of the nursery provision.

Will nursery meals continue?

Yes. There are currently no plans to change the provision of nursery meals.

Will nursery fees increase?

The nursery will continue to offer funded early education places in line with government guidance and Brighton & Hove City Council requirements. There are currently no plans for significant fee increases.

Will nursery staff transfer to Aurora Academies Trust?

Eligible staff would transfer to Aurora Academies Trust under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). TUPE protects employees’ terms and conditions when services transfer between employers. Staff who are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) would continue to have access to the scheme following transfer.

Will children need to move settings?

No. Children attending Roundabout Nursery would remain in the nursery setting they already know, with familiar staff and routines.

Will children automatically get a place at City Academy Whitehawk?

Admission to Reception at City Academy Whitehawk would continue to follow the school's normal admissions arrangements and Brighton & Hove City Council's admissions process.

Will a child’s attendance at Roundabout Nursery limit parental choice when selecting a school, i.e. will children at Roundabout be automatically allocated a place at City Academy Whitehawk?

No - all children, including those who attend a school nursery, must apply separately for a Reception place at their preferred primary school through the normal admissions process. Attending a nursery does not automatically give a child a place in Reception at that school, and parents remain free to apply for any primary school they wish.

This is already the case for children attending City Academy Whitehawk’s existing nursery, and the same would apply to children attending Roundabout Nursery if the transfer goes ahead.

How will Aurora Academies Trust run the nursery?

Aurora already operates six nurseries within its family of schools and has extensive experience of early years provision. The Trust's intention is to build on the nursery's existing strengths while working closely with staff and families to support its future development.

What changes does Aurora expect to make to the nursery?
Aurora's immediate focus would be on ensuring continuity for children, families and staff. We want to take time to understand the nursery, listen to staff and parents, and learn from what is already working well.

Over time, there may be opportunities to strengthen the nursery by sharing expertise, training and resources across Aurora's family of schools and nurseries. Any future changes would be carefully considered, communicated clearly and introduced gradually, with the aim of minimising disruption to children and families.

Will Roundabout Nursery keep its current approach to learning and development?
Aurora values the strengths that already exist within Roundabout Nursery and recognises the expertise of its staff.

The nursery would continue to operate within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, with a strong focus on children's development, wellbeing, relationships, communication and play-based learning.

Aurora's intention is not to replace what makes Roundabout special, but to build on its strengths and support its long-term future.

Does Aurora have experience of running nurseries and provision for very young children?
Yes.

Aurora already operates six nurseries across its family of schools, including provision for children below school age. Early years education is an important part of the Trust's work, and many Aurora schools have nursery provision as part of their educational offer.

The Trust understands that caring for babies and very young children requires specialist knowledge and expertise, and values the experience and skills of existing nursery staff.

Why is this proposal being considered now?
Roundabout Nursery is a valued community resource, but like many early years settings it faces significant financial challenges and currently operates with the support of substantial funding from Brighton & Hove City Council.

While discussions about finances are never easy, the reality is that the current position is not sustainable in the long term. Doing nothing would not address these challenges and could put the future of the provision at risk.

Brighton & Hove City Council and Aurora share a commitment to ensuring that high-quality nursery provision remains available for local families in the future. Decision-makers believe that securing the long-term viability of the nursery and protecting nursery places for future generations of children is in the best interests of children and families in Whitehawk.

The proposal is therefore intended to provide a sustainable long-term future for the nursery while maintaining the qualities that families value and minimising disruption for children, parents and staff.

Will fees increase if the nursery transfers to Aurora?
There are currently no plans for significant fee increases.

Aurora understands how important affordable childcare is for local families and is committed to keeping nursery provision as accessible as possible. Any future changes to fees would be carefully considered and communicated well in advance.

It is important to note that nursery fees can be reviewed from time to time regardless of who operates the nursery. The proposed transfer would not, in itself, trigger a fee increase, and the nursery could review its fees under its current arrangements in the same way as any other childcare provider.

Aurora's focus is on ensuring that the nursery remains both affordable for families and sustainable for the future.

How will Aurora be accountable to the local community?
Roundabout Nursery would become part of Aurora Academies Trust and City Academy Whitehawk, both of which are publicly funded and accountable for the education and care they provide.

The nursery would continue to be inspected by Ofsted and would remain subject to the same statutory requirements that apply to all early years providers.

Aurora believes that strong relationships with families and the local community are essential and is committed to listening to parents, staff and stakeholders as the nursery develops.

Will children with SEND continue to receive support?
Yes.

Supporting children with SEND is a core priority for Aurora. The nursery would continue to work closely with families, health professionals, Brighton & Hove City Council and other agencies to identify and meet children's needs as early as possible.

Aurora's wider network of schools and nurseries also provides access to additional expertise and opportunities to share good practice across settings.

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Have Your Say

The consultation is open until 3 July 2026.

We welcome views from parents, carers, staff and members of the local community.

Complete the consultation survey here: https://forms.gle/GkrT3LTi6gbDgbJ9A

The feedback received during the consultation period will help inform the implementation of the proposal and future planning for the nursery provision.

If you require this information in another format, language or need support to take part in the consultation, please contact: sarah.ferguson@place-group.com