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Cabinet consider proposals for Castlepark Early Years

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North Ayrshire Council has agreed on the next stage on their proposals for education at Castlepark Early Years Centre.

At a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday, elected members agreed that a statutory consultation should be held to gauge opinion on plans to incorporate Castle Eary Years Centre into Castlepark Primary School as an early years class, operating under a single leadership structure.

The proposals – agreed in principle by Councillors - would see children continue to receive their early learning and childcare provision in the same building, with the same facilities and an experienced practitioner team remaining in place. There are no plans to reduce capacity, alter opening hours or change the delivery model currently available to families.

A similar move was undertaken in 2023 when Kilwinning Early Years Centre was incorporated into Pennyburn Primary School as an early years class. The current proposal for Castlepark reflects the approach taken at that time and builds on learning from that experience

A statutory consultation will now be launched to assess all viewpoints before the Council can progress with its preferred model.

Quote: What is really important to emphasise is that these proposals don’t alter where the young people will learn but will improve the service we provide by enhancing the governance structure of the establishment. The early years provision itself would continue to operate on the existing campus, with children remaining in the familiar environment they already know. It will provide a single leadership structure and would strengthen the links between the nursery and primary and make the move up to primary even more seamless and easy for the young people. We have experience of doing the same thing at Pennyburn Primary with Kilwinning Early Years Centre and will draw on what we learned from that experience to make sure the change benefits young people, families and staff. But before any decision the statutory consultation will give parents, staff and the wider community the opportunity to have their views considered before any final decision is taken.”

Quote from: Councillor Jean McClung, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People

Published: 28 October 2026

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