Councillors decide outcome of Lasswade High School Childcare Service after consultation
Lasswade High School Childcare Service will close in September 2025.
Public consultation
At the full Council meeting on Tuesday 1 April, councillors approved the move after hearing the outcome of a public consultation.
Ten children attended
As of November 2024, there were 10 children attending the nursery, which is in the Lasswade High School Centre in Bonnyrigg.
62 responses
Councillors heard there were only 62 responses to the consultation, eleven of those were in favour of closing the service with 51 against.
Better transition arrangements for children
This decision opens up the potential for better transition arrangements for young children, who will benefit from spaces that facilitate continued high-quality early learning and childcare (ELC). Young children attending local authority school ELC settings will benefit from environments that will allow them to learn and play with other children at the early level. Additionally, staff may benefit from improved access to leadership from other ELC professionals if they move to a nursery or primary school setting, enhancing their career development and professional growth.
Independent report
Education Scotland inspectors have a statutory duty to provide an independent and impartial report on the council’s proposal.
Educational benefits
The report summary states: “HM Inspectors agree that the proposal has educational benefits. These could include the potential for better transition arrangements. Staff may benefit from improved access to leadership from ELC professionals, should they move to provision in a nursery or primary school setting. Children should benefit from appropriate spaces that facilitate the delivery of high quality ELC where they will learn and play with other children at early level. However, there may be potential to achieve this through enhancing the current setting. Should the proposal be approved, the council will need to support staff and families to transition to other provision.”
Work with families
The council will work with families to find the children places at other childcare settings locally.
Staff
The Lasswade service staff will be redeployed and managed in line with the council’s People Policies.
Options explored
Future options and use for the space will continue to be explored by council officers.