Proposal to close seven active nurseries in West Lothian

West Lothian Council advised the Scottish Government as early as 2016 that their changes to their Early Learning and Childcare policy would result in an unsustainable and inconsistent service for nursery children.

The council has capacity for over 6,814 nursery children. This year, the council has over 2,000 more places than is required, which is nearly 30% more than is needed to meet demand.  Even with less nursery buildings, the council would still have more than enough capacity to meet demand in each of the community areas affected given the availability in local alternative nurseries.

A decline in council run nurseries is a result of changes to Scottish Government national policy in 2018 - where the Government introduced 'funding follows the child'. This means that parental choices have changed significantly with many parents now choosing to use their funded nursery provision at private nursery providers and childminders in West Lothian. This has significantly reduced the demand for council run nurseries.

When the national policy was introduced in 2019 there were seven private partner providers in West Lothian for 4,290 eligible children (88.4% of those came to council settings).

Following the introduction of the national 'Funding Follows the Child' policy, there are now 32 private partner providers in West Lothian for 4,084 eligible children (78.0% of those come to council settings).

That's an increase of 25 private nurseries delivering services for less children. Overall, the data provides evidence that there is an over-provision in ELC options in West Lothian.

Demand for nursery places overall is also likely to reduce in the years ahead due to changes in demographics - with a falling number of births in Scotland. Although a small number of areas have seen growth in the number of young people, population changes across the country is reducing overall demand for spaces in many council nursery and childcare facilities.

Executive councillor for Education Andrew McGuire said: The 'Funding Follows the Child' policy may have benefits but there are two sides to this issue.

"There are only so many children and the birth rate in Scotland is declining.

"The Scottish Government know this so it cannot come as a surprise to them that councils need to look at reducing the number of nurseries where supply significantly outstrips demand for places. Councils are rightly expected to operate efficiently and manage local public finances, particularly when we're facing such significant budget pressures.

"This isn't only an issue in West Lothian."

He added:

"The reality is there is far more flexibility than there was before which many people will welcome. Parents and carers can now have publicly funded nursery places at a variety of options - both council run and privately run.

"However, we recognise that many of the parents who have contacted us would have liked their children to attend the nurseries that, locally, feed into the schools their children would later attend.  Although nurseries are not bound by catchment, the Council understands that desire from parents, and education officers have made this point consistently to the Scottish Government, and included it in our response to their consultation as far back as 2016. 

"It is for this reason that the Council has continued to invest in high quality provision which is, of course, the only provision which can offer this smooth educational and social transition from Early Learning and Childcare to Primary 1 which is desired by so many parents. 

"Council officers again advised the Scottish Government in 2018 that a model founded on unfettered choice, would be likely to prove unsustainable, and to the detriment of all eligible children and their parents/carers. 

"The Council recommended greater emphasis on the financial sustainability of the model, and the potential impact of unfettered choice on financial sustainability would help ensure the ability of authorities to ensure a high quality service is offered to all children.

"Unfortunately, Scottish Ministers have chosen not to act on the points and concerns that have consistently been put to them regarding nursery provision, with the consequence that there has been a major diversion of funds to the private sector providers. The result is that it is not possible to maintain the same level of services that offer maximum continuity and ease of transition into primary schools."

The nine nurseries that are being recommended to close in August 2025 are listed below. If patterns of parental choice were to change and this led to greater demand for council nurseries in specific communities then nurseries could be re-opened in future.

• Deans North Nursery School, Livingston

• Fauldhouse Nursery Class

• Glenvue Nursery School, Livingston

• Ladywell Nursery School, Ladywell, Livingston

• Linlithgow Bridge Nursery Class

• St Anthony's Nursery Class, Armadale

• St Joseph's Nursery Class, Whitburn

Two further nurseries are currently in active service and are included in the planned closure.

• Bathgate West Nursery School (currently an inactive service)

• Our Lady's Nursery Class, Stoneyburn (currently an inactive service)

Notes:

Nurseries in Scotland are already non-denominational and nurseries are not bound by primary school catchment areas - which means a place at a nursery does not automatically guarantee a place within that catchment area's primary school. Primary school and nursery applications are separate.