Lasswade High School Childcare Service closure decision: letter to Midlothian Council
Letter from Learning Directorate, to Midlothian Council, with decision to close Lasswade Highschool Childcare Service.
To: Fiona Robertson, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Partnerships, Midlothian Council
From: Orlando Mason, Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital Learning Directorate
22 May 2025
Dear Fiona Robertson,
Schools (consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010: Midlothian Council - Lasswade High School Childcare Service
I refer to Craig Murrin’s email of 1 April 2025 notifying Scottish Ministers of Midlothian Council’s decision of 1 April 2025 to implement the proposal to close Lasswade High School Childcare Service. 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 1 April 2025 and expired on 21 April 2025. No representation were received.
Having reviewed the documents provided by Midlothian Council under section 15(2) and considered all relevant representations made under section 15(4), Ministers consider that Midlothian Council has fulfilled its obligations under the 2010 Act and do not intend to issue a call-in notice for this proposal.
Midlothian Council may now implement its decision to close Lasswade High School Childcare Service in line with the timescales set out in its proposal paper. As noted in Education Scotland’s report on the proposal, Midlothian Council should ensure that children and families are well-supported in their transition to alternative childcare settings. We note the assurances that Midlothian Council have given regarding identifying available alternative childcare places locally and their commitment to provide families with clear information about these places during the transition period.
Yours sincerely,
Orlando Mason
Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital Learning Directorate
