We are pleased to launch the Scottish Private Nursery Association. We are Scotland’s only formal, incorporated association which will be entirely for private nurseries, run by the owners and managers of private nurseries.

There are other groups out there, and we aren’t going to shy away from them. But there is a growing sense that the views of private nurseries are lost in the noise, and there needs to be a voice educating and advocating on behalf of our sector.

After all, most of us have built our nurseries from the ground up. It’s not just a job, it’s a passion. We want the best outcomes for the children in our care, their parents, and our staff. That’s why we do it.

And now, we have an association which will speak for us, which will raise the issues we all face, and will fight for our sector.

But SEYA needs your help. We have already started engaging with elected officials, members of the Scottish Government’s departments, and agencies such as the Care Inspectorate and the SSSC. This takes time, it takes money, and it needs your voice.

We have deliberately set membership fees low. We know that most of you don’t have money to throw around, but we want to be there for you. Please consider joining – try a 6-month membership to see how we go about building our profile and being your voice.

Even better, consider getting on board and becoming a board member. Help us set the direction of the discussions we’ll be having across Government. Raise the issues you need solved.

After all, we are here to represent your views.