AS a coalition of leading independent and third sector providers of children's services we are deeply concerned by the threat of potential funding cuts to vital services for children across Scotland's councils.

This is a view echoed most recently by the Educational Institute of Scotland ("Union raises concerns over lack of qualified teachers in nurseries", The Herald, January 30). In this context we have recently launched a national petition, available to view and sign on the Scottish Parliament website, calling upon the Scottish Government to ensure Scotland's councils protect vital children's services when setting their future budgets. Demands on children's services are at their highest since 1981, with the latest figures indicating that 16,248 children are looked after by councils. On top of this there has been an 89% increase in the number of children with additional support needs in Scotland since 2010, with figures now standing at 118,034. These increases are set against a backdrop of council cuts and the UK Government threatening £25bn of more cuts to come.

Councils are being required to achieve more with less and this serves only to increase the barriers that children's services departments face in delivering the best outcomes for vulnerable young people. A society should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens and for councils to cut chil­dren's services should not be an option.

The Scottish Children's Services Coalition comprising: Tom McGhee, Managing Director, Spark of Genius;

Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive, Who Cares? Scotland;

Stuart Jacob, Director, Falkland House School;

Sophie Dow, Founder, Mindroom;

Sophie Pilgrim, Director, Kindred,

c/o 13 Hill Street, Edinburgh.