Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2026 [Draft]
The member raises important points, and what he has said is very concerning. The Scottish Government committed to reviewing the guidance on temporary closures for schools and council-run early learning and childcare settings—a practice that was previously referred to as mothballing. That review has now taken place, and the updated guidance provides clear advice for local authorities on when temporary closure is appropriate and how decisions should be made. It strengthens expectations around transparency, early engagement with parents and communities, and consideration of educational benefit and community impact. It is very concerning to hear that that has not taken place, and I ask the member to write to ministers with further detail on the situation so that we can explore it further.