Following the decision of the Executive on 15 April, possible alternative options have been explored by education officers in relation to small rural early learning provisions at risk of mothballing.
These individual solutions could provide accessible services for families living in rural communities while addressing the challenge of operating a traditional nursery class for very small numbers of children.
Special Meeting
A special meeting of Full Council will take place at 9am on Friday 9 May to enable this to be discussed. This has required a formal notice and motion to be submitted as a procedural step to allow the meeting to take place and Elected Members to consider this matter. This has been signed by 18 Elected Members.
The motion to be discussed proposes that early learning and childcare provisions at Channelkirk, Cockburnspath, Ednam, Walkerburn and Yetholm are maintained in the 2025/26 academic year, with appropriate models, which may include composite stages being implemented following engagement with parents and carers.
The mothballed status of the provisions in Sprouston, Westruther and Fountainhall will be reviewed, as planned, through consultation with the parents and carers in these communities. This review will continue the exploration of the opportunity to provide outdoor early learning and childcare provision at Heriot.
Councillor Julie Pirone, Executive Member for Education, Youth Development and Lifelong Learning
“After listening to many voices on our very small rural nursery provision, I am pleased that officers have developed innovative solutions that could be implemented for the upcoming academic year.
“These continue to put the educational experience of our children at the heart of everything we do and are a potential way forward for 2025/26. Removing the prospect of mothballing in this next year also provides some certainty for children and parents and carers and allows for further work and engagement on our mothballing policy
“I would like to thank everyone who has engaged with the Council over the last few weeks and given helpful views to allow us to come up with potential solutions, which I
believe will work in our small rural committees and which answers many of thequestions asked of us.”
The motion also asks for the forming of a Member Officer Working Group to review and further develop the draft mothballing policy, taking into account the views of
parents, stakeholders and national guidance.