Save Cortachy Nursery
UPDATE - 8 June 2026
Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign to save Cortachy Nursery so far. We met with the council on Fri (5 Jun) to discuss our concerns, and they agreed to keep applications open for the August 2026 intake for one more week. If they receive one more application by this Friday (12 Jun) they'll keep the nursery open.
If you or someone you know has a 3 or 4 year old, lives locally and would be interested in attending the nursery next term, please contact the school ASAP (01575 526043 or [email protected]) and apply directly via the council website.
If you have a child who will be turning 3 later in the year, or within the next couple of years, we would also urge you to contact the school ASAP to express your interest. This will help us to build a picture of future enrolment trends to prove to the council that it is worth keeping it open.
Many thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------
Cortachy Nursery is facing closure in August 2026 due to a recent change (10 March 2026) to Angus Council's temporary closure policy. The policy now stipulates that, "where the projected demand for an ELC setting (based on August intake) is expected to be five or fewer, temporary closure may be proposed."
With 3 of its 8 places set to be filled in August, Cortachy Nursery's numbers are admittedly lower than they have been in recent years. Just last year, families had to be turned away as the setting was at capacity. It is normal for numbers to fluctuate in rural settings. Sadly, Angus Council's policy doesn't take the fragility of rural schools into consideration, and this new policy means that 3 families are being turned away from an outstanding nursery, and its closure will have a negative impact on enrolment numbers for Cortachy Primary School in future years.
Angus Council state that they have concerns that fewer than 5 children in a setting will lead to "over-adulting" and a lack of "shared experiences". At Cortachy P.S the staff at the school already have strategies in place to mitigate these risks and nursery children are well integrated with the rest of the school, with whole-school shared activities taking place regularly.
The decision to temporarily close Cortachy Nursery appears to be financially motivated, while being presented as a decision relating to educational benefits. The council have not taken the time to consider the educational benefits to the nursery children and the school pupils that would be achieved by keeping the nursery open, and their decision-making processes are not clear and accountable.
We, the undersigned, therefore urge Angus Council to reconsider their decision and instead work with the school and its families to find a flexible solution in order to keep the nursery open.
Updates
Angus Council Community Consultation
September 6, 2026
Thanks to everyone who signed our petition to save Cortachy Nursery from closure in the Spring. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the quota of 5 children, and as a result Angus Council turned the 3 families who wanted a space at the nursery away, redeployed the fabulous staff team to other nurseries in Angus, and the setting has been 'inactive' since the new term started in August. The council are now seeking views on the closure of Cortachy Nursery from the community via the following online survey, which is open until the 21st September: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=7t-YN2zBekiIoixtpi261-yZEQStW-hMtE-87TLzFylUMU9QNFpEQkdDR1FQSkw2TDhTVjdYREM0Ti4u&route=shorturl We are really keen to get the nursery reopened, and would encourage you to complete this survey to share your views. Particularly if you have a child/children under 5 and would like them to attend Cortachy Nursery in the next two years - there's space on the survey to let the council know this. Many thanks for your support.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2026
92 Comments
Rural nurseries are an essential resource that provide for local families. The smaller class numbers are actually a huge benefit to so many children who would struggle in a busier setting and who would also have to commute further to reach those town settings.
My three children have all been through Cortachy Nursery, each year the numbers have fluctuated, but truly believe that all three have benefitted from an excellent environment and setting, and have all progressed to the Primary school.
We have lost so much at Cortachy & Dykehead.. Our church has closed. The local pub has been demolished. The Post Office closed years ago. We have no hall, meeting place or polling station. The school and nursery are the only remaining facility to support families wishing to live in this beautiful area.
Children under five should not be forced to travel a distance for nursery education simply because they live in a rural area. This nursery is a vital part of the community, supporting children’s development and local families. Rural families deserve equal access to early years education — not fewer services.
This nursery is vital for keeping the schools and wider community thriving. Short-term fluctuations in numbers should not outweigh the long-term benefit to our local families and children. It’s not just the children now who will be disadvantaged, the whole future of the community and school is.
It’s a vital part of the community
Closing the nursery is extremely short sighted. Last year I knew of families turned away as the nursery was at capacity, by closing it the knock effect will be that families have to take nursery places elsewhere and then the numbers will be unable to build up again! This will also impact the school as once they have been to a different nursery the children will want to stay at that school. This is in complete contrast to Angus councils vision of trying to encourage more families into rural areas
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Save Cortachy Nursery
UPDATE - 8 June 2026
Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign to save Cortachy Nursery so far. We met with the council on Fri (5 Jun) to discuss our concerns, and they agreed to keep applications open for the August 2026 intake for one more week. If they receive one more application by this Friday (12 Jun) they'll keep the nursery open.
If you or someone you know has a 3 or 4 year old, lives locally and would be interested in attending the nursery next term, please contact the school ASAP (01575 526043 or [email protected]) and apply directly via the council website.
If you have a child who will be turning 3 later in the year, or within the next couple of years, we would also urge you to contact the school ASAP to express your interest. This will help us to build a picture of future enrolment trends to prove to the council that it is worth keeping it open.
Many thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------
Cortachy Nursery is facing closure in August 2026 due to a recent change (10 March 2026) to Angus Council's temporary closure policy. The policy now stipulates that, "where the projected demand for an ELC setting (based on August intake) is expected to be five or fewer, temporary closure may be proposed."
With 3 of its 8 places set to be filled in August, Cortachy Nursery's numbers are admittedly lower than they have been in recent years. Just last year, families had to be turned away as the setting was at capacity. It is normal for numbers to fluctuate in rural settings. Sadly, Angus Council's policy doesn't take the fragility of rural schools into consideration, and this new policy means that 3 families are being turned away from an outstanding nursery, and its closure will have a negative impact on enrolment numbers for Cortachy Primary School in future years.
Angus Council state that they have concerns that fewer than 5 children in a setting will lead to "over-adulting" and a lack of "shared experiences". At Cortachy P.S the staff at the school already have strategies in place to mitigate these risks and nursery children are well integrated with the rest of the school, with whole-school shared activities taking place regularly.
The decision to temporarily close Cortachy Nursery appears to be financially motivated, while being presented as a decision relating to educational benefits. The council have not taken the time to consider the educational benefits to the nursery children and the school pupils that would be achieved by keeping the nursery open, and their decision-making processes are not clear and accountable.
We, the undersigned, therefore urge Angus Council to reconsider their decision and instead work with the school and its families to find a flexible solution in order to keep the nursery open.
Updates
Angus Council Community Consultation
September 6, 2026
Thanks to everyone who signed our petition to save Cortachy Nursery from closure in the Spring. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the quota of 5 children, and as a result Angus Council turned the 3 families who wanted a space at the nursery away, redeployed the fabulous staff team to other nurseries in Angus, and the setting has been 'inactive' since the new term started in August. The council are now seeking views on the closure of Cortachy Nursery from the community via the following online survey, which is open until the 21st September: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=7t-YN2zBekiIoixtpi261-yZEQStW-hMtE-87TLzFylUMU9QNFpEQkdDR1FQSkw2TDhTVjdYREM0Ti4u&route=shorturl We are really keen to get the nursery reopened, and would encourage you to complete this survey to share your views. Particularly if you have a child/children under 5 and would like them to attend Cortachy Nursery in the next two years - there's space on the survey to let the council know this. Many thanks for your support.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2026
92 Comments
I have two children one of whom is being turned away from the nursery after having spent a wonderful year there and a second who would be eligible to attend in 2027/28
Rural nurseries are an essential resource that provide for local families. The smaller class numbers are actually a huge benefit to so many children who would struggle in a busier setting and who would also have to commute further to reach those town settings.
My three children have all been through Cortachy Nursery, each year the numbers have fluctuated, but truly believe that all three have benefitted from an excellent environment and setting, and have all progressed to the Primary school.
We have lost so much at Cortachy & Dykehead.. Our church has closed. The local pub has been demolished. The Post Office closed years ago. We have no hall, meeting place or polling station. The school and nursery are the only remaining facility to support families wishing to live in this beautiful area.
Children under five should not be forced to travel a distance for nursery education simply because they live in a rural area. This nursery is a vital part of the community, supporting children’s development and local families. Rural families deserve equal access to early years education — not fewer services.
This nursery is vital for keeping the schools and wider community thriving. Short-term fluctuations in numbers should not outweigh the long-term benefit to our local families and children. It’s not just the children now who will be disadvantaged, the whole future of the community and school is.
It’s a vital part of the community
Closing the nursery is extremely short sighted. Last year I knew of families turned away as the nursery was at capacity, by closing it the knock effect will be that families have to take nursery places elsewhere and then the numbers will be unable to build up again! This will also impact the school as once they have been to a different nursery the children will want to stay at that school. This is in complete contrast to Angus councils vision of trying to encourage more families into rural areas
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I have two children one of whom is being turned away from the nursery after having spent a wonderful year there and a second who would be eligible to attend in 2027/28