The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has found that Scottish Borders Council’s 2025 consultation on closing five nurseries, at Channelkirk, Cockburnspath, Ednam, Walkerburn and Yetholm, was “unreasonable and amounted to maladministration”.
The Ombudsman found that parents weren’t told clearly what the consultation was for, weren’t told how their views would be used, and that the council kept poor records and failed to respond properly to legal concerns. The council reversed the closures after a public outcry and has now published a full apology.
Well done to the parents who fought this, and especially to the Cockburnspath parent council, whose complaint led to the ruling.
Our position: families should not have to go to the Ombudsman to be heard. Every school and nursery consultation must be clear, honest and properly recorded. Small rural nurseries and schools are lifelines, and they should stay open wherever they are viable.
