SCOTTISH Borders Council is carrying out a consultation to help them plan more flexibility into future early years services across the Borders.

The Early Years Team wants to gather the views of parents and carers on the services currently available in their local area and whether these are meeting their needs.

They are keen to hear from families who make use of early learning and childcare services, including out of school and full day care, with the aim of being able to build more flexibility into the delivery of these services in the future.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, SBC’s Executive Member for Education, said: “High quality early learning and childcare play a critical role in the formative years of a child’s development.

“Not only do they promote long term health and wellbeing, they provide children with an invaluable start to their longer term educational achievements. It is therefore vital that parents and carers have their say on what they see as being the priorities for the future delivery of these services.

“By taking part in the survey and making their views known, they will be able to shape the Council’s planning process in a way that will be of benefit both to themselves and their local communities. I would therefore encourage all parents to take the time to fill out the survey and tell us what is important to them and their families.” There are a number of ways that the survey can be completed. Questionnaires have been issued through schools, childcare settings, toddler groups and via health visitors. These can be handed into any primary or secondary school, Council contact centre or local childcare provider.” They can also be posted to the Early Years Team, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0SA.