Mum starts petition calling for more childcare for Whitecraig parents

Tammy Rush, 35, said the lack of childcare in the area had been "an ongoing issue for many years," claiming that "little" had been done to make childcare more accessible for working families.

She is planning to take her petition, which currently has 130 signatures, to East Lothian Council so that the local authority can help parents secure a private childcare provider.

The petition states: "All surrounding schools such as Wallyford, Burgh, Stoneyhill, Campie and Pinkie have some form of wrap-around care like breakfast and/or after-school clubs. We believe Whitecraig should have similar provisions."

Miss Rush moved to Wallyford three years ago but her children were reluctant to move schools, having formed "great bonds" with teachers and "great friendships" with children at Whitecraig Primary School.

Her eldest daughter Sydnie, 12, is now at secondary school but she needs childcare for nine-year-old Mirren and seven-year-old Jorgie, who both attend Whitecraig Primary.

Miss Rush said: "The school are being very supportive as they are aware how beneficial access to childcare would be for working families.

"They have created a survey which will be distributed to families this week to determine which services people require the most.

"Options on the survey are breakfast club, after-school club and holiday club.

"These services could be provided in either Whitecraig Primary School or the new Whitecraig Hub but East Lothian Council would need to arrange for caretakers to be on site to allow access to any private provider.

"The survey will help to demonstrate demand and hopefully a private childcare provider will come forward to offer a service in Whitecraig."

She added: "Not having access to childcare is very stressful for parents, especially single parents without family that are able to help with school drop-offs and pick-up.

'Unable to work'

"Some parents in Whitecraig are unable to work due to lack of childcare, as finding work that coincides with school hours can be challenging.

"It’s difficult to see how families will survive the cost-of-living crisis when they are unable to work to increase their earnings because of childcare issues.

"I have spent the last four years completing a bachelor and master’s degree in business at university to create a better life for myself and my children but I may have to turn down a recent full-time job offer with DWP unless the childcare issues in Whitecraig are resolved.

"There are no childminders or after-school clubs at all in Whitecraig.

"ELOSCN (Edinburgh and Lothians Out of School Care Network), who run Wallyford after-school club, used to provide a service for Whitecraig children at their Wallyford club. The children requiring a service were collected from Whitecraig and parents would collect them from Wallyford.

"My children used this service whilst I was at university but unfortunately it was cancelled by ELOSCN a few years ago, leaving parents a month to make alternative arrangements."

The petition can be signed at change.org/p/help-whitecraig-parents-with-childcare

East Lothian Council has been contacted for comment.