Parents angry at muddled nursery closure plans

PARENTS have been left fuming after council chiefs moved to close five nurseries in the region – without a proper consultation process.

Dumfries and Galloway Council messed up by prematurely contacting parents of kids at the very small nursery settings, informing them that provision would be “paused” from August and that places would be offered elsewhere.

However, the following day the council scrambled to inform parents they had made a mistake and issued a grovelling apology.

The five affected nurseries are: Collin Primary School Nursery, Creetown Primary Nursery, Drummore School Nursery, Kirkcowan Primary Nursery, and St Teresa’s RC School Nursery.

Education bosses have since held their hands up and admitted they jumped the gun, having previously announced that any proposed nursery closure would follow the standard consultation process first.

Parents and carers have been angered and confused at the handling of the situation.

In a statement released on Friday, Councillor Tracey Little, chair of the council’s education committee, said: “Dumfries and Galloway Council offers a sincere apology to the families, communities and employees affected by recent communications about nursery provision at five small nurseries in the region.

“We recognise that over the past few days there has been confusion and upset, and we are sorry. We are re-contacting all the families affected.

“Following the recent nursery enrolment process, six council-run nurseries were identified as having projected rolls of fewer than ten children.

“In response, the council moved to pause provision at five nursery settings from August 2026 and offer families alternative places at nearby nurseries.”

The sixth nursery, at Dalry, cannot be closed because there is no nearby alternative nursery available.

The council has drawn up plans to close a select few small nurseries to save a total of £310,000 this year.

Councillor Little said: “Although this action was taken in good faith and is consistent with Scottish Government guidance on temporary closures, we now acknowledge that it does not reflect the expectation that was set by what was presented to the public and elected members at full council on February 26.

“The agreed position, as set out in the 2026/27 budget, was to undertake statutory consultation on the future of very small council-run nurseries with low enrolment. That consultation has not yet taken place.

“No final decisions have been made about the long-term future of any nursery setting and plans to temporarily close the five nursery settings will now not go ahead.

“Going forward, the council will undertake formal statutory consultation on the future of each of the five nursery settings.

“The outcome of the statutory consultation process will inform the council’s next steps.”