Consultation on investment in North West Kilmarnock to start Monday 25 April
At the recent meeting of Cabinet, agreement was reached on the proposal for an inclusive educational development in North West Kilmarnock, on the sites of Mount Carmel Primary and Onthank Primary and Early Childhood Centre, and a full public consultation that will start on Monday 25 April.
The proposal document, which will be the basis of the funding bid to be presented to the Scottish Government Learning Estate Investment Programme later this year, would allow for:
- an extension of Willowbank School at the current Onthank Campus to incorporate a new Willowbank Primary School
- additional flexible provision within the new Willowbank Primary School to help meet the needs of a small number of children aged 3-5 years with significant and complex additional support needs
- the creation of a Supported Learning Centre, which would formalise the additional resources successfully piloted at Onthank Primary over the last two years under the guidance of our Educational Psychologists
- a further Early Childhood Centre resource at Mount Carmel Primary School
The proposal takes a place-based approach, which means that children and young people will learn within their own communities, providing the most appropriate educational setting to meet their needs, with opportunities for everyone on the campus to work together for the benefit of the children and young people.
Following agreement on the proposal document, Cabinet also approved the consultation process. The consultation period will start on Monday 25 April and end on Thursday 9 June. The full version and summarised version of the consultation will be published on the Council’s website and a formal virtual public meeting will be convened in each school, in consultation with the Parent Councils, during this period. Views recorded at each public meeting will be taken into account as part of the consultation process and a note of each meeting will be published on the Council’s website.
Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education said: “The funding bid East Ayrshire Council will submit later this year to the Scottish Government Learning Estate Investment Programme is ambitious and best meets the needs of the young people within the North West Kilmarnock area.
“Now that Cabinet has approved the proposal document and the consultation process, we can press ahead with our consultation plans and will be contacting interested parties shortly. The consultation will be thorough and I can assure our parents and carers that there will be many opportunities to have your say and make your voice heard.
“This consultation is about our children and young people and providing the best facilities possible to ensure that they reach their full potential.”