Mount Esk Nursery to Become Part of Hawthornden Primary School

Midlothian Council has agreed to re-designate Mount Esk Nursery School in Bonnyrigg as the nursery class of Hawthornden Primary School. The nursery will continue to operate from its existing building, with leadership transferring to the Head Teacher of Hawthornden Primary School from August 2026.

Statutory consultation

The decision at the full Council today (Tuesday) follows a statutory consultation held from 10 November to 21 December 2025, during which 29 written responses were received. In addition, seven members of the public attended a meeting at Lasswade High School to discuss the proposals.

Responses

The consultation found:

• 44.8% of responses were in favour of the proposal to close Mount Esk Nursery School, 48.3% were not in favour and 6.9% had no opinion.
• 48.3% responses were in favour of establishing Hawthornden Primary School Nursery Class, 41.4% were not in favour and 10.3% had no opinion.
• 37.9% of responses were in favour of the proposal to re-designate Mount Esk Nursery School to Hawthornden Primary School Nursery Class as part of Hawthornden Primary School, 55.2% were not in favour and 6.9% had no opinion.
• 37.9% of responses to the consultation were in favour of the proposal to place Mount Esk Nursery School under the leadership of the Hawthornden Primary School Head Teacher, 55.2% were not in favour and 6.9% had no opinion.

Enrolment figures

Mount Esk Nursery is currently registered for up to 64 children, with 44 children enrolled in January 2026. Numbers are expected to increase as more children turn three.

Potential educational benefits

A report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), which has a statutory duty to provide independent and impartial findings on the proposals, noted potential educational benefits, including stronger links between nursery and Primary 1, and more consistent approaches to learning, teaching, and inclusion. Inspectors also highlighted the need for clear planning and ongoing communication with families and staff.

Stronger learning pathways

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Ellen Scott said: “We are grateful to everyone who shared their views. By aligning Mount Esk Nursery more closely with Hawthornden Primary School, we believe children and families will benefit from smoother transitions, stronger learning pathways, and a more connected school community. Our focus now is on careful planning and clear communication to ensure a positive experience for all.”

Note

This decision does not affect the Family Learning Centre run by Midlothian Sure Start within the Mount Esk building. Sure Start has separately chosen to close this and its Gorebridge Beacon centre at the end of March 2026. The council and Sure Start will work together to support affected families in finding alternative places.