Aberdeenshire SNP group asks Scottish government for help in pausing closure of nursery schools in rural communities such as Glass
The Scottish government is being asked to pause the closures of rural nurseries such as the one at Glass.
Glass Nursery is due to be ‘mothballed’ for at least two years from July 4, the end of the current summer term. The facility, which looks after five children, is one of four “under capacity” rural nurseries that have been earmarked for closure by Aberdeenshire Council which is led by a Tory administration.
However, the opposition SNP group on the council have now written to the Scottish Government to request a moratorium on any further closures.
They claim a lack of consultation with the public before the decisions were taken to mothball Glass and another three Aberdeenshire nurseries – Ballogie, Sandhaven and Crossroads near Banchory.
In addition, they question why council officers, instead of elected members, should be allowed to wield the power.
Louise McAllister (Ellon and District, SNP) is the local party’s spokesperson for education.
She said: “Unfortunately the democratic decision-making around the mothballing of early learning centres and nurseries has been shamefully removed by the Tory-led administration of Aberdeenshire Council, despite our best efforts to keep the voice of elected members as part of the process.
“The raft of recent announcements on further nursery closures has caused significant concern in the communities affected and, most importantly, for the children and their families who will be directly impacted.
“Whilst we recognise that there are currently difficult financial decisions to be made, riding roughshod over communities, young people and the needs of working parents is not the way forward.”
Speaking about the closures, Jenny Nicol (Mid-Formartine, SNP), the party’s deputy spokesperson, added: “These aren’t just buildings – they’re essential to community life, early childhood development and supporting rural living in Aberdeenshire.
“Decisions about their future must be transparent and shaped through genuine community consultation.”
The letter goes on to ask the Scottish Government to confirm what criteria and consultation procedures should be used.
It also asks the government to consider a moratorium on all mothballing and closures until that guidance is available.
After the decision regarding Glass Nursery was announced just before it broke up for Easter, an online petition was set up by parents and locals concerned about the overall effects on their small community and the village’s primary school in particular.
They argue that while the nursery has had only five pupils this year, it was at near capacity with 14 the year before, and may approach that number again in the future.
The petition, which can be found on change.org, currently has 436 signatures.
