Angus nurseries set to close due to low demand despite opposition
Two Angus nursery classes are set to be closed due to low demand for places – despite opposition from the local community.
Councillors will consider mothballing the early learning classes (ELC) at Colliston and Cortachy at a family, education and justice committee tomorrow (Tuesday).
A report drafted ahead of the meeting says the previous uptake at Cortachy has been between five and eight children each year.
However, for August 2026, there were just three children.
Meanwhile, at Colliston, there were just two youngsters this year.
Angus education chiefs have now brought forward plans to close both classes for three years from August 2027.
The proposals stop short of axing them altogether and leave the door open to them restarting if demand increases to five or more applications at either location.
A consultation on the proposals was carried out in August to seek the views of parents, the parent council, the community council and other interested parties in the area.
In Colliston, all 32 respondents to the consultation opposed the idea, and all 19 respondents in Cortachy were also against the move.
Despite this, a report by early years quality improvement manager Sheena Lock recommends the classes are closed.
The report says: “Having carefully considered the educational benefits for children, officers remain of the view that temporary closure is the correct proposal at this time.
“This is because the projected nursery roll is very small and would require staffing arrangements that are unlikely to provide the breadth and quality of early learning experience expected within an ELC setting.
“A very small number of children could limit opportunities for shared experiences, peer interaction, collaborative play and a wider range of planned activities.
“It may also increase the risk of over-adulting, where children have fewer opportunities to learn alongside and from other children, and reduce the diversity of experiences available within the setting.
“While the importance of local provision is recognised, the proposal for temporary closure allows demand to be kept under review and the setting to reopen if sufficient applications are received, while also ensuring best value and the effective use of staffing and resources.”