Future Changes to Nursery and Early Learning places

Changes in the local population will see the number of children forecast to fall in most villages and towns in West Lothian.

This is reducing demand for spaces in many council nursery and childcare facilities. Furthermore, the Scottish Government also introduced 'funding follows the child' which means that parental choices have changed with many parents now choosing to use their allocated nursery provision at private nursery providers in West Lothian.

This has resulted in an oversupply of early learning and childcare provision in West Lothian council facilities. The council has capacity for over 6,814 children. This year, the council has an oversupply of 2,017 places, which is nearly 30% more than is needed to meet demand.

A report being presented to the Education Executive sets out council officer recommendations to adopt a community focussed approach to nursery provision. This would result in a reduced number of council run settings within some communities which already have multiple alternative options for nursery places.   

To realign the demand for places with the number of required buildings, council officers are recommending a reduction in nine council nursery facilities, which would remove 848 surplus places that are not needed, and better balance out the provision of nursery settings with demand for spaces.

In each of the affected areas, there is multiple alternative options and significant capacity. Therefore, every child in West Lothian will continue to be able to access 1140 hours of nursery provision at a local nursery establishment.

Whilst there will be an over reduction in the number of settings, the report also highlights where nursery provision has been re-opened, and where new nurseries will be established to support population growth, and demand in certain areas.  

For example, new schools (including nurseries) have been opened or are planned in Bangour, Calderwood and Winchburgh to meet local demand due to a growth in local populations. Furthermore, Windyknowe Nursery, Bathgate which had been closed as a result of emergency building work, also re-opened in August 2024.   

Following a review of the oversupply of nursery places, officers are recommending that they are allowed to progress with relevant steps to proceed with a statutory consultation to close these facilities, with nursery provision continuing to be provided at alternative nurseries within the same communities.

 These facilities would not close until August 2025 if the plans were to be agreed.

• Deans North Nursery School
• Fauldhouse Nursery Class
• Glenvue Nursery School
• Ladywell Nursery School
• Linlithgow Bridge Nursery Class
• St Anthony's Nursery Class, Armadale
• St Joseph's Nursery Class, Whitburn
• Bathgate West Nursery School (currently an inactive service)
• Our Lady's Nursery Class, Stoneyburn (currently an inactive service)

Education Executive are being asked to approve the plans and, before any closures can be considered, relevant steps would have to be undertaken, including consultation with parents/carers at each facility.

Greg Welsh, Head of Education for West Lothian Council, said: "We are looking to deliver a community focussed approach to the provision of Early Learning and Childcare with an emphasis on putting quality over quantity. We have a very large nursery estate as things stand and, even if the changes are taken forward, we will still have more than enough capacity within our remaining facilities to ensure that every child in West Lothian will be able to access 1140 hours of nursery provision at a local nursery establishment, such is the significant over provision of spaces currently.

"There are very good alternatives nurseries in each of the areas and we are looking to adapt to demand and prioritise the quality over the quantity of physical nursery settings.

"If our recommendations are approved, we will be better placed to improve quality at a smaller number of buildings in communities which already have multiple options for parents and young people.

"Our review was based on criteria which analysed both capacity and location. Essentially, it considered key factors such as alternative provisions within communities, the population and demand for spaces at each facility, and also the physical capacity of some of our nurseries.

"The financial position facing all councils is severe which is why it is important that we continually review services and adapt to change taking place around us to ensure our services are delivered effectively and efficiently."

Below is a list of accessible alternative council and ELC partner providers within each community: