- Title or Description
- Mothballing Nurseries in Scottish Borders Council
- FOI Number
- 20250441
- Date Received
- 10/04/2025
- Type of Request
- FOI
- Request or Question
-
Please could you supply the following information/answers in relation to the current proposals to mothball several nurseries: The report mentions a private nursery within 5 miles of Channelkirk School, please can you confirm the name and address of this nursery.
The report mentions that Channelkirk nursery suffers from damp and humidity issues, please can you send any relevant reports/information pertaining to the current condition of the portacabin particularly any mentions of these damp and humidity issues and the options that have been considered for mitigation/remedy.
The report states that biannual cycle of data analysis will analyse the NHS data in August identifying children aged 5 years or younger, living in the Scottish Borders Council area and registered with a GP surgery, to project potential demand and the admissions data in January identifying actual demand for provision.
Please can you send copies of this data for the Channelkirk area and the projected roll for Channelkirk for future academic years post 25-26.
The report mentions it is not taking into consideration any eligible 2 year olds. Please can you clarify when this will be reviewed, including the staffing implications, for all nursery settings in SBC for the next academic year.
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (as amended 2019) sets out that the council has a duty to consult and plan on delivery of early learning and childcare at least once every 2 years. Please can you share details of the latest consultation information (incl. Date of consultation, format of consultation, content of consultation e.g. questions asked, participants, data collated/results). As well as the latest published plan.
The report states that the focus will be on deployment and redeployment of staff both within Early Learning and Childcare and the wider Council. HR Policies and Procedures will be used to ensure consistency and fairness for any impacted staff. It is anticipated that these efforts will reduce the need for staff members to leave the employment of the Council on a non- voluntary basis. Do you anticipate there will be any redundancies voluntary or otherwise as part of this review process?
The report states that there is capacity for all the children in the local authority nursery in Lauder would any changes be required to accommodate additional children at Lauder including changes to the building/additional facilities or additional staff? - Response
-
1) The High Street Nursery (Lauder)
2) Please see report dated December 2023.Care Inspectorate - Channelkirk Nursery Reports
3) This is not data we receive at the moment ? the responsibility is on the parents to apply for a setting.
4) This is looked at 3 times per year. We receive notification of eligible parents from DWP. All parents are contacted to make them aware that they may be eligible and asked to complete the eligibility check form at the appropriate time.
5) Please can you share details of the latest consultation information incl.Date of consultation 22/1/2024 10/3/2024 format of consultation Citizen Space content of consultation e.g. questions asked, participants 223 responses
As well as the latest published plan. Delivery Plan following the recent consultation is currently in draft form to be finalised.
6) We don?t have this information at the moment this will become apparent following the consultation process
7) There is capacity within the current ELC provision at Lauder to accommodate all children from Channelkirk with not alterations required
