We the undersigned strongly oppose the plan to amalgamate Gaer
Infants with Gaer Juniors on the Junior site, as we can see no grounds
or justification for such a move. Surplus spaces will not be an issue
within five years, but the severe impact that this plan will have on the
Gaer community is a major concern.
The Gaer community, and especially the children of the Gaer, should not be used as pawns to move around, to make space for the other school reorganisations currently planned.
There are no benefits to the Gaer from this plan, no positives that can be found. The Infant children lose all their beautiful outdoor space and community funded play equipment, as well as many of their fantastic indoor facilities, none of which are statutory requirements and therefore not to be provided for them on the new site.
The Junior children will lose their so-called 'empty' classrooms, currently
housing a library, computer room, film club and safe space rooms for
children struggling in the classroom, as well as a large portion of
their outside space.
They will gain a wing of unspecified dimensions to house those Infants that cannot be fitted into the main school, a build-on to the school despite the fact that it is a listed building.
The Gaer nursery, currently able to accommodate up to 98 children (49 each morning and afternoon), will be cut to 64 children.
Doing this will effectively remove the ability for the school to offer Gaer children a place at nursery from the term after their third birthday; instead they will have to wait until the September after their birthday. This will impact on working families as they will have to find alternative nursery space for their children until the school could take them.
Traffic has always been challenging at the Junior school entrance. It will become a nightmare for parents, staff but particularly local residents.
There are no positives sides to this proposal, and as there are no grounds to justify the plan, we ask that Newport City Council drop this proposal immediately.