Brighter future for village after appeal for families to move in

About a year ago, residents of the Borders village of Heriot took the unusual step of issuing a call for families to move to the area to boost pupil numbers at their school.

It came after they fell below 26 - the number needed for two classes - for the first time in decades.

There were concerns about the impact that might have on its long-term viability.

However, 12 months on, there is more optimism among Heriot's 160-or-so households as a way has been found to return teacher numbers to two with Scottish Borders Council (SBC) set to open an early years nursery at the school.

Like many rural parts of the country, SBC has closed - either permanently or temporarily - a number of schools due to falling rolls.

One of the most recent was at Fountainhall which is just a few miles from Heriot.

Last year, the council pledged to look at ways to take a more "joined-up approach" to attract more families with school-age children to the area.

The nursery - with seven children set to start in August - is one way to achieve that.

Natasha King, whose daughter Sophie is among their number, said it would make her daily routine a lot easier.

"With two older children attending Heriot Primary School it's been somewhat inconvenient to have to take their younger sister over to Moorfoot Nursery and then be back with her in time for schools out," she said.

"It will be great to have all three kids going to the same place.

"Having a nursery at the school will be good for the community in bringing the younger kids to the school earlier and letting them get used to the environment."

She said it was an arrangement which could bring a range of benefits.

"I think it builds confidence in the younger ones and responsibility in the older ones," she said.

And, of course, it might attract more people to the area.

"The nursery will potentially bring some families who live further afield into our community and keep our school numbers growing," she added.

Helen Marsden, from the Heriot Primary parent council, said the future now looked much brighter.

"This gives the opportunity for all the many younger children in the village to go to nursery here and then transition into the Heriot Primary School - rather than go to nursery elsewhere which increases the likelihood they may choose other schools," she said.

It might also, they hope, act as a bit of an advert for the village.

"Because the nursery is open to children outside of the catchment area, it also offers the opportunity for children in surrounding areas to come to it," explained Helen.

In addition, they could see an upturn in numbers after the school in the next village along, Fountainhall, has been mothballed and its catchment area temporarily added to Heriot's.

"This means that families on the large family housing estate in Fountainhall are now entitled to free bus transport to the primary school in Heriot from their home, for the duration of their time at the primary school," she said.

SBC said it had worked closely with families after concerns about moving to one class were raised.

"It was recognised that having children who lived in the catchment area, able to access pre-school facilities would be a positive move in sustaining the school," said a statement.

"The school will have two classes next session - one class will be a nursery and P1 and the other will be P2 to P7".