Concern is growing in Lochaber after repeated closures and staffing shortages at Strontian Nursery prompted calls for urgent action from Highland Council.
Parents have raised serious concerns about ongoing disruption to nursery provision, including short notice closures and the inability to accept new children because of staffing pressures.
The issue has now been taken up by Andrew Baxter, who represents Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
He said he has been contacted by multiple families struggling to cope with unreliable childcare in an already remote community.
Baxter has written to senior officers at Highland Council, calling for an urgent review of the operation of Strontian Nursery.
He is also demanding direct engagement between council officers and affected parents.
“This is not a minor inconvenience.
“This is about children losing access to early years education at a crucial stage in their development, and families being unable to work, study, or plan their lives.
“Some have already lost jobs, others are considering leaving the area altogether because they simply cannot rely on the only childcare available locally.
“The staff on the ground are doing an extraordinary job in very difficult circumstances.
“They are overstretched, under pressure, and trying to hold things together with limited support.
“This situation is not their fault.”
Instead, he said the problems point to wider failures in council planning and workforce management.
“What parents are experiencing points to a failure of workforce planning and contingency arrangements at a council level.
“Decisions made in Inverness are having very real consequences for families in remote communities like Strontian.”
As part of his intervention, Baxter has asked the council to explain how staffing shortages have been allowed to persist and why recruitment has been delayed.
He has also sought clarity on what steps are being taken to stabilise nursery provision and whether families will be reimbursed for paid childcare that has not been delivered.
In addition, he has requested that council officers attend a locally facilitated meeting with parents.
He said families deserve clear answers and a timetable for restoring reliable early years provision.
“Early years provision is essential infrastructure in rural communities.
“If we want families to stay, to work locally, and to put down roots, then the council must start treating it that way.”
