Nicola Sturgeon is backing campaigning parents whose children attend Newark Drive Nursery in her Govan constituency in Glasgow. Parents are concerned that the nursery will close before a new early years centre opens nearby. They also fear that their three-year-olds may not even get a place at the new setting.
Newark Drive Nursery was one of 23 nurseries and primary schools earmarked for closure by Glasgow City Council (news, 28 January). Reasons given by the local authority - falling rolls and poor facilities - were rejected by the parents, who organised petitions, classroom lock-ins and protests across the city.
The council finally agreed to save one primary and two nurseries on the list, but confirmed closure of the remainder at a meeting in April (news, 22 April).
Now Ms Sturgeon hopes she can have the council's decision referred to ministers under their Scottish Government School Closure Guidance.
Ms Sturgeon's spokeswoman said, 'Parents are anxious that their nursery is to be closed before the new centre is ready. The council led parents to believe that if they had a three-year-old at Newark Drive, there would be a place for them at the new early years centre, which may not be so.'
Ms Sturgeon says Government guidance indicates that if capacity exceeds 80 per cent, then ministers must make the final decision.
A council spokeswoman said, 'There is no definition of capacity in early years provision - some children may be in for two, three or four mornings, others may be full-time.'
Ms Sturgeon is asking Fiona Hyslop, minister for education and lifelong learning, and Margaret Doran, executive director of children and families at Glasgow City Council, to clarify whether the decision must be referred upward.
