We, the undersigned parents, carers, residents and supporters across Dumfries and Galloway, call on Dumfries and Galloway Council to immediately pause the proposed closure or “mothballing” of small and rural nurseries.

These nurseries provide vital early years education and childcare for young children and are essential for supporting working families and sustaining our local communities. Small nurseries and those serving rural areas are often the heart of their communities, helping attract and retain young families and ensuring children can access early education close to home.

We are deeply concerned that these decisions appear to have been made without meaningful consultation with parents, staff or local communities, and without clear publication of impact assessments or exploration of alternative solutions.

We respectfully ask Dumfries and Galloway Council to:

• Immediately pause the proposed nursery closures
• Publish the evidence and impact assessments used to justify these decisions
• Carry out proper consultation with parents, staff and communities
• Work with communities to explore sustainable alternatives that protect access to local early years education

Our children, families and communities deserve transparent decision-making and a genuine opportunity to be heard before services that are so important are removed.