East Kilbride's MSP is calling on the local authority to provide assurances to parents that travel arrangements will be put in place for decanted pupils of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary ahead of the new school term.
A £4.754 million refurbishment of the East Kilbride primary means all pupils and staff need to be decanted for the 2023-2024 academic year to the newly built Jackton Primary three miles away.
Collette Stevenson MSP has been contacted by several worried parents who say they "don't have a clue" where or when to drop off their children for bus pickups.
Parents will also face disruption to their current nursery arrangements as the nursery at the school is moving to Kilbryde Early Learning and Child Care Centre, and childminders at this stage do not have the information to plan ahead for the new term.
Collette said: "I have been contacted by parents worried that they don’t know where or when their children are to be dropped off for their journey to Jackton Primary.
"I understand there was an event at the end of March to provide some clarity, however it is my understanding that parents and childminders are still in the dark. I of course understand this is a huge task to plan for, but people need to know well in advance what is happening.
"The council stated three months ago in the press that 'further information on the arrangements for the decant will be provided to parents and families by the school in the coming weeks'.
"I wrote to the Education Department almost three weeks ago to share these concerns and ask when these plans would be shared with parents.
"It is disappointing that to date I have not received a response."
Councillors gave the go-ahead to extend, upgrade and modernise Our Lady of Lourdes Primary. While construction work is being carried out, pupils will move to the new Jackton Primary.
An additional three classrooms will be built to accommodate pupil growth which is predicted from several housing developments in the catchment area.
There will also be an internal and external upgrade of the existing building which will include a new roof, new windows and doors as well as general works to bring the school up to the high specification of the recently completed Primary Schools Modernisation Programme.
Work will also be done to secure the playground with a dedicated entrance walkway and security fencing around the perimeter of the playground.
It is hoped that the extension and upgrade of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School will be completed by August 2024.
Jackton Primary is a brand new non-denominational primary school being built in the expanding area of Jackton, on the western outskirts of East Kilbride.
The school, opening in August, will comprise 17 mainstream classrooms and two general purpose areas, four Additional Support Needs (ASN) classrooms, separate dining and gym hall and a seven-a-side floodlit football pitch which can be utilised for community lets outwith school hours.
Overtime, as the roll increases, the management structure of the school will include up to two depute head teachers and two principal teachers.
Outwith the school and under separate management, the campus will also house a new 52-week standalone early learning and childcare facility for up to 80 three/four-year olds and 15 two-year olds.
Lynn Sherry, head of education at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “An update will be provided to parents later this week. This will then be followed up with the issue of detailed transport plans for each child.
“Parents should be assured that transport will definitely be in place and we are working to finalise the contracts. We anticipate that everything will be in place before the end of term.”
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