Parents who commute into Edinburgh will no longer be able to access funded childcare places in the city’s private and independent nurseries under plans put forward by the local authority.
Council chiefs intend to “phase out” access, with those who work in the capital but live in areas such as Fife, East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian only to be offered places in council-run nurseries.
Campaigners said they were “disappointed and concerned” about the plans, warning it will have a “major impact” on parents.
Edinburgh City Council leader Cammy Day denied that Edinburgh residents could also be banned from accessing funded places in non-council nurseries.
Fears spread on social media after an official report went before councillors last month highlighting the benefits of “providing (the) service inhouse”.
The council has now clarified, however, that the change only applies to people who live outwith Edinburgh.
Carole Erskine, head of policy and campaigns for Pregnant Then Screwed in Scotland, a charity that fights for the rights of mothers, said: "We're disappointed and concerned to see proposals from Edinburgh City Council to only offer funded hours in council-run nurseries for parents who use their funded hours in the city but don't live there.
"Taking this choice away will have a major impact on families and goes against the Scottish Government policies of enabling choice and Getting It Right For Every Child.
"Parents need certainty when it comes to childcare. Not the prospect of having to change their provision on the back of a hastily thought up plan by Edinburgh City Council."
