Temporary Closure Procedure DRAFT v.3
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 June 2026
Back to Community Services Committee — 4 June 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL: EDUCATION Procedure for Temporary Closure of Schools and Early Learning & Childcare Settings Appendix 1
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1. Introduction Argyll and Bute Council is committed to ensuring that decisions regarding the temporary closure of any school, stage of education, or Early Learning and Childcare setting (ELC) are taken in a transparent, accountable, and evidence‑based manner - with educational benefits being the paramount consideration. Temporary closure is a planned, non‑emergency measure intended to retain the possibility of reopening when circumstances allow. This Procedure outlines the process that shall be followed by the Education Service in the event of a need to consider the temporary closure of a school or ELC arising. The Council recognises that all of our schools and ELCs are unique in their circumstances, and officers may be required to tailor their approach to each individual school or ELC. However, this Procedure outlines the general decision-making framework and basic requirements which should be followed in all instances. 2. Purpose This Procedure details the formal governance framework for all temporary closure decisions, ensures compliance with legislation and statutory guidance, provides clarity for stakeholders, safeguards educational interests, and supports the sustainability of local communities. 3. Scope This Procedure applies to all Argyll and Bute Council schools (primary, secondary, and special) and all ELCs managed by the Council (either standalone ELCs or those which form part of a school). It covers planned, non‑emergency temporary closures. Emergency closures for health and safety reasons are not covered. 4. Legislative and Policy Context This Procedure is informed by: • Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 • Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010: Statutory Guidance (December 2025) • Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 • Education (Scotland) Act 1980 • Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 • Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act • Equality Act 2010 • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024
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• Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 5. Definitions Temporary closure: A planned short‑term closure where the school or ELC remains capable of reopening. Stage of education: A defined year group or teaching stage. Affected school/setting: Any school or ELC proposed for temporary closure; or any other school or ELC which would be significantly affected in consequence of the temporary closure. 6. Principles All decisions must prioritise educational benefits, be evidence‑based, involve meaningful early engagement with the relevant stakeholders, be subject to scrutiny by elected members, and must comply with statutory requirements. 7. Basis for Considering Temporary Closure Officers shall initially consider the possible requirement for a temporary closure arising in all cases where: a) the roll of a school or ELC falls to zero; or b) where the Education Service otherwise considers, taking account of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, that there may be a case for considering a temporary closure (having regard to the educational benefits for pupils and any other relevant users of the school or ELC). 8. Engagement Requirements After having identified a potential need for temporary closure, the Education Service shall be expected to undertake early engagement with: • parents/carers (including the Parent Council chairs of the affected schools/ELCs); • pupils (in a manner that is appropriate to their age, and other relevant circumstances); • staff (including the Headteachers of any receiving school/ELC which forms part of a school); • the local ward elected members for the affected schools or ELCs; and • any other groups or individuals that the Education Service considers relevant in the context of each case. The purpose of this early engagement is to ascertain those stakeholders’ views on the present position of the school or ELC, including their thoughts on the
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option of temporary closure. Those engagement findings will be outlined within the report mentioned at Section 9, below, and shall inform officers’ recommendations as appropriate. 9. Governance and Decision‑Making Framework At the conclusion of the engagement exercise, outlined in Section 8, above, the Education Service shall prepare an evidence‑based report on the circumstances of the school or ELC – including relevant information in relation to stakeholder views; educational benefits; operational factors; and, where relevant, the suitability of proposed interim arrangements regarding any rezoning school. The report shall make recommendations as to whether a temporary closure should be approved; and, in the case of a school, identify a nearby or neighbouring rezoning school, which would have the effect of assuming the catchment area of the temporarily closed school for the duration of the temporary closure. Once completed, the Education Service’s report shall be presented to the next available meeting of the Council’s Community Services Committee (discharging the delegated duties and powers of the Council as the Education Authority) for consideration and decision by elected members. 10. Post‑Decision Requirements In the event of a temporary closure being agreed, the Community Services Committee shall also stipulate a period for review of the temporary closure (at least annually). When preparing for further reviews, officers shall maintain communication with affected stakeholders, monitor projected school/ELC rolls, demand for reopening, and ensure that buildings are maintained by the Council in the meantime to preserve viability. If, whilst monitoring the above factors, officers reach a view based on the available evidence that a temporarily closed school or ELC has become viable for reopening, they shall present a report to the next available meeting of the Community Services Committee, recommending that members agree to the reopening of that school or ELC. 11. Monitoring and Review This procedure shall be subject to review in the event of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, and/or its accompanying Statutory Guidance, being amended. The Education Service shall continue to monitor this procedure on an ongoing basis.