Two nurseries on hit list as council balances its books

Published on Friday 24 September 2010 18:41

THE two city nursery schools facing the axe have today been revealed by council bosses.

High School Yards and Princess Elizabeth nurseries both face closure next summer under plans that would save the council 200,000 per year.

A public consultation into the proposals will begin at the end of next month if councillors on the education committee approve the report at a special meeting on October 12. Council bosses argue that both nurseries are "significantly" under capacity and pupils can be accommodated in other city nursery schools, but it is a decision sure to be fought by staff and parents. The move follows the closure of four primary schools at the start of the summer holidays this year.

Parents were due to receive the bad news today.

City education leader Marilyne MacLaren said: "Our extremely challenging financial situation means that we must ensure the services we provide are efficient and effectively targeted. We have a good spread of nurseries across the city but in some areas there are more than we need. These empty places cost a lot of money."

It is not the first time parents have had to fight to save their children's nurseries. In 2007, High School Yards and Princess Elizabeth were two of six nurseries earmarked for closure under controversial plans, which also saw proposals to shut 16 schools.

Council bosses were forced to scrap the plans almost immediately after mass protests from parents across the city.

And just two years ago, parents at both nurseries campaigned against the council's decision to scrap hot meals in 14 of its nurseries, which the Evening News backed.

Council officials have been reviewing the city's 16 stand-alone nurseries over the past few months. They originally said three would have to close, but have limited this to two.

They have chosen High School Yards, just off the Cowgate, and Princess Elizabeth in Prestonfield.

Education bosses say that the roll of 21 children at High School Yards – which has the capacity for 40 pupils – is the third lowest in the city and the average cost per pupil is 6,468, compared with the city average of 5,754.

They also say that the site does not meet current standards, the building has a poor layout inside and that it would potentially need 36,000 spent on it over the next five years.

Princess Elizabeth has just 20 children, the second lowest roll in the nursery school estate, and the average cost per pupil is 6,301.

An assessment of the building also shows that it may need as much as 27,000 spent on it over the next five years.

If closure plans go ahead, children from High School Yards would be offered places at Royal Mile Primary School nursery class and at St Leonard's Nursery School.

Children from Princess Elizabeth would be offered places at Cameron House Nursery School and Prestonfield Primary School nursery class.

As well as annual savings of 200,000, council bosses say closing the nurseries could bring in 250,000 through the sale of the buildings. A public consultation into the proposals would run from October 26 to December 7.