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Threatened rural nurseries to stay open after parents' campaign

BBC A group of families with parents and children protesting about the closure of nurseries in the BordersBBC
The moves to mothball the nurseries prompted protests

Five rural nurseries in southern Scotland have been saved from closure after a campaign by parents, supported by actor Jack Lowden.

The Slow Horses star, who once attended one of the threatened facilities, added his voice to calls for a rethink.

Scottish Borders Council initially planned to mothball Channelkirk, Cockburnspath, Ednam, Walkerburn and Yetholm nurseries after hearing they were operating at under 50% capacity but that was shelved last month.

A special meeting has now approved a new plan that will allow them to stay open for the 2025/26 academic year.

Getty Images Actor Jack Lowden with a red beardGetty Images
Jack Lowden joined the fight to save the rural nurseries from closure

Council leader Euan Jardine said they had been "innovative" in tackling a problem being faced around the country.

Lowden, who has starred in films like Fighting with my Family, grew up in Oxton, where he attended the Channelkirk nursery.

The closure plan prompted him to post on Instagram that he hoped a way could be found to keep the nursery open, along with other threatened facilities.

Last month, the council said it had listened to concerns and agreed to "set aside" the previous decision.

Now a special meeting has agreed new models of provision to allow the nurseries to operate during the next school year.

A working group is also to look at the provision of early learning and child care in the region and will report back in October.