Notes of meeting at Little Scholars Nursery: 2 October 2007

Notes of meeting at Little Scholars Nursery: 2 October 2007

1. A total of 38 people attended, representing:

a) Parents of infants in the early years stage of the nursery

b) Parents of children in the pre-school years stage of the nursery

c) Parents of children who are on the waiting list

d) Staff of the nursery

e) Directors of the nursery

f) Convener of Comann nam Parent – Glaschu

g) Chief Executive of CNSA

Apologies were also received from five families who were unable to attend.

2. The role of Comann nam Pàrant was explained, and that any parent with a child in Gaelic-medium education – nursery, primary and secondary – is automatically represented by CnP.

3. Discussion took place on the current situation, with regards to Little Scholars/ Langside:

a) The Council has indicated that they are not empowered to fund Langside College, and an associated private nursery business, to the tune of £500,000.

b) This is the sum that the College has said it would need to build the Gaelic Nursery facility, within its overall plans for campus redevelopment; an amount of money which it sought to obtain from the Council.

c) We understand that the Council never made any such funding commitment, therefore, talk of "the Council withdrawing funding" misrepresents the actual events, and is not true.

d) If it had such available money – and the financial powers - there are probably other GME investments that it could consider before donating funds to an external capital investment.

e) The Council has provided financial support for the staffing costs of the GME nursery provision, and is committed to the continuation of this practice - none of this is under threat.

f) Parents considered asking the College what its rationale was for pursuing this course of action, perhaps with a view to getting the decision overturned.

g) After discussion it was agreed that this would not be the most useful course of action.

4. Discussion took place on the current situation, with regards to Lyonscross:

a) The Council has plans to expand the GME nursery provision in the city, by offering GME nursery places at Lyoncross in Pollok.

b) This facility will provide care equivalent to the pre-school service available at Rowena in Kinghtswood, and Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, offering five sessions per week to parents.

c) The exact date for this service to commence will depend on staff recruitment, and it is hoped that it will start as soon as staff are appointed.

d) There will be 20 places – ten in the morning, and ten in the afternoons – for 3 and 4-year olds.

e) It was always intended that this would be additional provision, under the assumption that the Little Scholars service would continue, (if not at Langside, then ideally re-provided from a new location).

f) This additional capacity, and has been planned because numbers in GME nurseries continue to grow: Total GME nursery numbers in Glasgow rose 22% in the last year.

g) It was never designed to substitute for the service that is being currently offered at Little Scholars.

h) For many (though not all) Little Scholars parents, this service does not meet their needs, however it does represent valuable extra provision.

5. Discussion took place regarding the future options available to Little Scholars parents:

a) The favoured option is one that has been suggested by the Council, and involves securing an existing, soon-to-be redundant nursery facility: Holmlea[1], 77 Holmlea Road, G44 4AQ

b) Council officers are investigating the feasibility of this option at present, and will be able to communicate soon, we anticipate, on whether or not it will be possible.

c) The building is a nursery at present, however, part of the Council's primary school redevelopment means that this service will in future be available from the new-build/ redeveloped primary schools in the area.

d) It is possible that a capital receipt from the sale of this redundant facility has been factored into the Council's planning, and if so, a Council decision would be needed to retain the building for Council Education purposes.

e) The Education Officer who has suggested this option was ill, and not at work on the day of the meeting, and so the latest information was not available.

f) A meeting with her is scheduled on other matters, on Monday 8 October, and CnP will suggest that the Langside Nursery issue should be discussed at some point that day.

g) In order to represent the Nursery parents at this meeting one of the Little Scholars parents will try to attend this meeting, other commitments permitting.

h) If it transpires that Holmlea is not feasible, parents would like the option of assessing other possible buildings, rather than be offered a no-choice – take-it-or-leave-it decision.

i) In general, parents would prefer a replacement facility to be within one mile of the current Langside location.

j) The parents are concerned that the current staff may not stay for the 15-month period that the current Gaelic nursery plans to operate, and the staff also have concerns.

k) CnP will raise with the Council what steps can be take to provide assurances for staff, that continuity will be pursued vigorously, and to explore the option of Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) arrangements applying to staff who could transfer from Nursery employment to the Council.

l) Other broad options that were considered comprise:

i) Moving the portacabin to a different site;

ii) Finding a private nursery operator to start up a GME nursery / day-care business;

iii) Asking the College to reconsider its decision not to secure facilities for a GME nursery;

iv) Operating a Gaelic nursery as a charitable/ parent led/ community venture.

m) These other options may be pursued if the preferred Council option does not materialise.

6. On future meetings and communications it was agreed:

a) Use will be made of email, the CnP – Glaschu yahoo group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/CnP_Glaschu, and the Little Scholars notice-board to update all parents.

b) Jackie Hoy offered to collate all email addresses, and parents should email her at jackie.hoy@ btinternet.com with their personal contact details.

c) The meeting originally schedule for Wednesday 10 October may not be necessary; depending on the outcome of the Council meeting on Monday 8 October.

d) An update will be sent to parents informing them of whether or not it will take place.

e) The option of inviting the Director of Education to a meeting was discussed, however, it was agreed that this option would only be pursued in the event that difficulties arose in the pursuit of the preferred solution.

Thanks very much to all who turned up, and to the directors of Little Scholars for accommodating the meeting, and providing refreshments and biscuits.

Le deagh dhurachd

Mary Galbraith – Convener, Comann nam Pàrant – Glaschu

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^[1] On the Council's website, Holmlea is listed as one of the Councils "Extended Daycare Establishments" saying, "These services can provide education and daycare for children from birth until school entry date and are open up to 52 weeks per year, mainly between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm. …Places are offered for children on a full-day or part-day basis."