Proposals to close down and relocate the services of a pre-school centre have been given overwhelming support by the community.
A public consultation on the proposal to close Kilwinning early years centre, and make it part of a new early years class at Pennyburn Primary School, was carried out last autumn.
Thereafter, Education Scotland provided their report while North Ayrshire Council’s consultation report was made available to the public.
Only two formal online responses were received, with a further 84 from Pennyburn Primary School pupils.
A total of ninety-three per cent agreed with the proposal.
North Ayrshire's cabinet on Tuesday was asked to accept the report and inform Scottish ministers within six days of making this decision. Ministers then have eight weeks following the decision in which to decide to call it in or not.
Key themes from the primary school pupils who agreed with the proposal can be summarised as follows:
- Working together on joint activities, assemblies and shows;
- Closer contact will help with the move from early years to primary school;
- Sharing a head teacher means not too much change for P1.
- Contact with siblings, for photographs together;
- One school/early years drop-off will make it easier for parents, especially working ones.
The reasons given by the children who did not agree included consideration of how the younger ones would feel about being part of a larger provision; and perception that staff may lose their jobs.
If approved, following the statutory public consultation, around £63,286 will be saved from the removal of the head of centre post.
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