"Essentially a closure" – No children at Banchory ELC by August 2024

Councillors were presented with an Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Review last Thursday, and were asked to note and approve a series of efficiencies. 

One of which was the further suspension of student admissions at Banchory ELC., with councillors deciding that no new children will be enrolled all the way through the 2024-25 school year.

The decision follows on from the council’s original decision in March when all new admissions were suspended during the 2023-24 academic session – as a result no new three-year-old children were enrolled. 

Cllr Graham Lindsay, spokesperson for education, said: “We’re doing this in order to sustain an efficient running model.

"We’ve been asked to continue the admission suspension at Banchory ELC. This will mean a valuable increase in capacity at Banchory Primary School.

"It is clear that the additional space is absolutely required to meet the needs within the primary school.”

He continued: “Banchory ELC is a difficult aspect, but we are here to make those challenging decisions.

"I think this is the right decision for this school. We need to provide a strong provision from a primary perspective as well.” 

There are currently 25 pre-school children enrolled in Banchory ELC for session 23-24, all of whom are eligible to start school in August 2024. 

It is proposed that the period of suspension should continue into academic session 24-25.

Banchory Primary School campus (Google Maps)

Council papers read: “This presents an opportunity in August 2024 to repurpose the ELC space and provide valuable increased capacity within Banchory PS without incurring additional building costs.”

However, council officers maintain that this is not a formal closure.

Cllr Darren Lee, ward councillor in Clacks West, asked: "If the Banchory ELC admission suspension continues, there will be no staff, no kids, no space. It’s essentially a closure, why don’t we call it as such?”

Council officers highlighted that permanent ELC closures must go through a formal process.

“Young people are simply not there [at Banchory ELC] through this model. That is what we’re proposing,” councillors were told. 

Banchory ELC staff will be redeployed to other ELCs and primary schools. As a result, no permanent vacancies will be advertised from Aug 2023, saving the council a total of £120,000. 

Councillors also approved three other substantive changes within Clackmannanshire’s ELC provision. 

Families should expect to see a new centralised admissions process rolled out – they will now apply for ELC settings through a central point of contact using a digital application form. 

The other changes would put Clackmannanshire in line with other local authorities in Scotland. 

Clackmannanshire’s ELC standalones (Tulach, Sauchie, Menstrie, Park) will move from a 49 week to a 48 week annual provision in the name of efficiency.

It is proposed that the additional week would be identified as one of the two October school holiday weeks.

Lastly, all new staff contracts will be offered at 32.5 hours per week as opposed to the current full time 35 hour per week contracts. 

The efficiencies were approved 16 to 2 after a vote.