Angela Constance MSP Expresses Disappointment Over Almond Valley Nursery Closures

Angela Constance MSP Expresses Disappointment Over Almond Valley Nursery Closures

West Lothian Nursery Closures Will Hit Deprived Families Hard, MSP Urges Council to Reconsider

Angela Constance, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Almond Valley, has voiced deep disappointment at West Lothian Council’s budget decision to close several nurseries in the Almond Valley area. The Council’s plan – which includes shutting four early learning centres in communities across Almond Valley – will, she warns, have serious negative consequences for local families. In particular, families living in more deprived areas will be hardest hit, as they stand to lose accessible early years support that is vital for children’s development and for enabling parents to work. This move appears to directly contradict the Scottish Government’s investment in education, which has focused on expanding early years provision to give every child the best start in life.

The Scottish Government has prioritised early years education as a means to reduce inequality and support working parents. In recent years, it funded the expansion of free early learning and childcare to 1140 hours a year for all 3- and 4-year-olds (and eligible 2-year-olds) – a policy designed to improve children’s outcomes and narrow the poverty-related attainment gap while offering parents flexibility to return to work or study. 

“High quality early learning and childcare can help to reduce inequalities in cognitive development,” 

a national study noted, underlining why strong nursery provision is so important for disadvantaged communities. Closing local nurseries now risks undermining this progress. Parents in Almond Valley have consistently voiced concerns that fewer nursery options will leave them struggling to find suitable places or having to travel long distances, eroding the benefits of the 1140 hours policy. West Lothian Council’s decision, coming at a time when the Scottish Government is investing around £1 billion per year through councils to support early years education, flies in the face of national efforts to give children the best start.

Angela Constance MSP has been engaging with parents throughout the Council’s consultation on these closures and says their views have not been properly heeded. She stressed that some of the nurseries slated for closure serve communities with high levels of poverty, where early years support is particularly crucial. 

“I am deeply disappointed that West Lothian Council has chosen to close these nursery facilities in Almond Valley,” said Angela Constance MSP.  “This decision ignores the valid concerns raised by local parents and flies in the face of what we are trying to achieve nationally. The Scottish Government has invested heavily in early years education – including delivering 1140 hours of funded childcare to support working parents and tackle inequality – because we know how crucial these services are for children’s development. It is disheartening to see a local authority undermine that progress by withdrawing vital early learning support from the very communities that need it most.”

Ms. Constance reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting early education and urged the Council to reconsider its approach. She is calling on West Lothian Council leaders to explore alternative solutions that address budget pressures without sacrificing nursery provision for local families. This could include looking at efficiency savings or redesigning services in a way that keeps early years centres open. Angela Constance added that she will continue to work with parents and campaign for the protection of early years services:

“I urge the Council to think again and listen to the families who depend on these nurseries. We must do everything we can to protect early years education – it is an investment in our children’s future and a lifeline for working parents. I stand with local families and remain committed to ensuring young children in Almond Valley get the best possible start in life.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

      •     Almond Valley Nursery Closures: West Lothian Council’s budget proposals for 2025/26 include the closure of five early learning and childcare centres in the Almond Valley area, following a recent statutory consultation. The nurseries affected include Deans North Nursery (Livingston), Fauldhouse Nursery Class, Ladywell Nursery (Livingston), and Our Lady’s Nursery Class (Stoneyburn). These closures are planned for August 2025, citing falling rolls and surplus capacity as reasons. Local parents have raised objections, highlighting the importance of these centres to their communities.

      •     Scottish Government Early Years Investment: The Scottish Government’s expansion to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare for all eligible children is supported by approximately £1 billion annually in funding to local authorities . The policy’s core aims are to improve child development outcomes and close the poverty-related attainment gap, as well as to support parents – especially mothers – into work or education. Early years education has been shown to significantly benefit children from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping to reduce developmental inequalities .

      •     Angela Constance MSP (Almond Valley):  has been actively engaging with constituents on this issue and encourages any affected families to contact her office with their concerns.

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