“What looks good on a spreadsheet doesn’t translate to reality very well.”

Jamie’s two boys had to leave their old nursery when it suddenly closed.(Image: Supplied)

An Edinburgh dad has said his family faces “massive disruption” if cuts made by a neighbouring council stop his son from going to nursery. Jamie Francis and his wife already had to move both their boys from another childcare facility after it suddenly closed over a year ago.

The closure was a result of Edinburgh Council removing funding for nursery places filled by children living outside the council area. However, the local authority in West Lothian – where Jamie’s youngest child now attends nursery – may soon take the same action, with a decision to be made at a full council meeting on Tuesday, February 24.

The 35-year-old lives in South Queensferry with his wife and two sons – George, five, and Freddie, three. Both boys were previously enrolled at Claylands Nursery near Ratho. The nursery closed with four days’ notice after Edinburgh Council abruptly halted funding for “cross-boundary children” in July 2024 because it had so many children from West Lothian enrolled.

Jamie explained that although George was able to move elsewhere with his friends and is now at school, there were no places available nearby for Freddie, who was under two at the time.

He told Edinburgh Live: “We waited a month until the new term started, having our youngest in the house while we both worked from home.

“However, it caused massive disruption which ultimately resulted in me losing my job and our car, as it was a company car.

“These are the kinds of things that I don’t think the council realises. Not only is it hugely disruptive for the adults, it’s just as bad for the kids and their wellbeing.

“They have every right to be in a settled environment, where they have thrived and built relationships, without being disrupted. It’s not fair I might have to move my child to a third nursery in less than three years.”

Jamie said it feels like “the rug has been pulled from under us”.(Image: Supplied)

Jamie says West Lothian Council’s proposal goes against the Scottish Government’s policy “Funding Follows the Child”, which allows parents to use their 1,140 hours of funded childcare to any early learning and childcare (ELC) provider or childminder which has a contract with its local council.

He and his wife chose to send Freddie to the Little Bugs nursery in West Lothian because its location was convenient for their jobs.

He added: “Communities near council boundaries, such as ours in South Queensferry, are particularly affected because they are naturally connected to neighbouring areas for work and childcare. Administrative lines on a map do not reflect the lived reality of families’ daily routines.

“I think more than anything else, the council have to realise what looks good on a spreadsheet doesn’t translate to reality very well.”

Jamie suggested implementing a “phased period” if the decision goes ahead, where children already enrolled in cross-boundary nurseries are allowed to stay until they move to primary school, before the policy changes to only accept admissions from within the council area.

He added: “There are so many more thoughtful ways of doing this, but West Lothian Council just seem to be doing it at short notice. They also probably won’t be able to support us because they’re not ‘our council’.

“We’ve just had the rug pulled from under us again, but the wider impact is concerning. Ending that funding could mean businesses have to close, staff lose their jobs, and some parents have to take unpaid leave just to look after their kids.”

The proposals have been made to save the council money – despite the same move by Edinburgh Council only saving £36,650 in the year 2024/25, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Organisations campaigning against the plans argue only families in the West Lothian area were consulted, despite many of the nearly 100 affected families living in neighbouring areas including Falkirk and Edinburgh.

Andrew Carr, chair of the National Day Nurseries Association’s (NDNA) West Lothian branch, operates a nursery in Linlithgow. He has also set up a petition against the proposals.

He said: “Several families at First Adventures would be affected by the proposal to reduce the range of flexible childcare options for families being considered by West Lothian Council.

“We have NHS workers, local business people and teachers who need flexible childcare options: families who have looked at public settings in their own local authority areas, and in West Lothian, and who have chosen our setting because it meets their needs when those others do not.

“None of them have been consulted by West Lothian Council because they aren’t West Lothian residents: their voice is unheard and their needs have not been properly considered. The Council’s assessment says that nobody returning from maternity leave will be affected by this: I have families who prove this to be untrue.”

Louise Licznerski is the owner and director of Little Bugs, a small family-run outdoor nursery situated directly on the border between West Lothian and Edinburgh.

She said: “The proposal to cut cross boundary funding would be deeply damaging for our families. Many have already experienced disruption due to recent council changes, and this decision would force children out of settled, trusted environments purely because of administrative boundaries.

“It removes meaningful parental choice and places council convenience above children’s wellbeing and best interests.

“Local authorities are entrusted with this funding to support children, not to restrict access based on postcode. Preventing families from using their entitlement where it works best for their child undermines that responsibility and risks dismantling valued, community-based provision.

“This proposal has the potential to destroy what we have built for our community and diverts focus away from children and families towards unnecessary bureaucracy. I urge the council to reconsider the real human impact of this decision.”

For now, Jamie and his wife face an uncertain wait to hear the outcome of Tuesday’s vote. He said: “We’ve sent out so many applications for other nurseries in case this gets pushed through – and I think it’s just one of those things they’re going to railroad through – and we’ve not heard anything back about whether they have any spaces.

“It’s really stressful and genuinely something I’m losing sleep over.”

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “This remains an officer proposal at this time, and no decisions have been taken. Like all councils, West Lothian is facing significant financial pressures. A wide range of options must be brought forward in order to provide services in line with available budgets. This proposal was included in a recent public consultation. All residents, staff and partners were given the opportunity to take part in this consultation, and all feedback received has been considered.“West Lothian is not alone in considering this measure. For example, City of Edinburgh Council has already made a similar change with regards to their nursery provision.

“We appreciate the potential impact this proposal may have on families who live out with West Lothian and rely on established childcare arrangements, and we recognise the importance of continuity and stability for children’s wellbeing. Should the proposal be approved, council officers would ensure clear and timely communication to allow families sufficient time to review and plan their arrangements. Council officers would also support any transition arrangements should families consider a move to one of our council establishments.”