Crianlarich Nursery closure decision: letter to Stirling Council
Letter from Learning Directorate, to Stirling Council, with decision to close Crianlarich Nursery.
To: Bryony Monaghan, Head of service, Education, Stirling Council
From: Orlando Heijmer-Mason, Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital Learning Directorate
20 November 2024
Dear Bryony Monaghan
Schools (consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010: Crianlarich Nursery
I refer to your email of 26 September 2024 notifying Scottish Ministers of Stirling Council’s decision of 26 September 2024 to implement the proposal to close Crianlarich Nursery. Ministers have considered this proposal in line with the requirements set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”).
Under section 17 of the 2010 Act, Ministers may only issue a call-in notice if it appears to them that the education authority may have failed:
(a) in a significant regard to comply with the requirements imposed on it by (or under) the Act so far as they are relevant in relation to the closure proposal, or
(b) to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.
Section 15(2) of the 2010 Act requires an education authority to provide a copy of the proposal paper and the consultation report prepared under the Act to Ministers when notifying them of a closure proposal.
Section 15(4) of the 2010 Act requires Ministers to take into account any relevant representations made to them by any person during the three-week period from the date that a closure decision is made. In relation to this closure proposal, the three week period began on 26 September 2024 and expired on 16 October 2024. One representation was received.
Having reviewed the documents provided by Stirling Council under section 15(2) and considered all relevant representations made under section 15(4), Ministers consider that Stirling Council has fulfilled its obligations under the 2010 Act and do not intend to issue a call-in notice for this proposal.
Stirling Council may now implement its decision to close Crianlarich Nursery in line with the timescales set out in its proposal paper. As noted in Education Scotland’s report on the proposal, Stirling Council should continue to engage with stakeholders to address concerns around transport arrangements.
Yours sincerely,
Orlando Heijmer-Mason
Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital Learning Directorate
