The council is to launch a public consultation into proposals to close High School Yards and Princess Elizabeth nurseries if the plans are approved by the education committee at a meeting on 12 October.
The SNP/Lib Dem-led council says that both nurseries are significantly under capacity and that children can be accommodated at other city nursery schools. It plans to sell the nursery buildings for an estimated £250,000, which it says would be reinvested in the children and families department.
Marilyne MacLaren, Edinburgh Council's education leader, said, 'We are completely committed to early years and nursery provision to ensure that Edinburgh's children get the best possible start in life. However, our extremely challenging financial situation means that we must ensure that the services we provide are efficient and effectively targeted. We have a good spread of nurseries across the city, but in some areas there are more than we need. These empty places cost a lot of money.'
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