Social work offices turned into childcare centre after £3m boost
SOCIAL work offices have been transformed into a new early learning centre as part of a £3million investment in early years education.
Glasgow has been granted capital funding of £40.77m to be used annually until 2020 to ensure the city can provide expanded early learning and childcare.
Nearly £3m has already been spent in the city ahead of the Scottish Government pledge to give all parents access to 1140 hours of free provision.
Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years, said: “As a council we are fully committed in Glasgow to meeting the national objective of 1140 hours of funded early learning and nursery care by 2020.
“The capital investment being made in our facilities over the next three years will make a huge difference in our efforts to hit this target.
“By repurposing and refurbishing existing council buildings in places such as Scotstoun and Langside we are already boosting our capacity to provide early learning opportunities for younger children.”
A report to the council’s City Administration Committee details how this year’s money has been spent.
It includes major works of £2.2m to repurpose the Southbrae Centre in Scotstoun from a social work office to a centre for 139 early learning and childcare spaces.
The project has recently finished and a local nursery provider has moved in to the building.
Langside Nursery, in Battlefield Primary, has seen a half a million pound investment to turn unused spaces into areas for nursery provision.
Blairtummock Childcare Centre of Excellence, a partnership between Rising Stars Childcare and Glasgow Kelvin College, has been given an investment of £159,000.
The centre provides nursery and after-school care for 370 children as well as an early learning and childcare teaching space for 85 students at any one time.
It also includes extensive outdoor spaces, both in the grounds and in neighbouring woodland, offering enhanced outdoor learning opportunities and it is expected that children will spend at least 70 per cent of their time in the outdoors.
Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education for Glasgow City Council, will now be asked to update the authority’s Education, Skills and Early Years City Policy Committee as the roll out of increased hours goes ahead.
Labour’s education spokeswoman councillor Soryia Siddique said: “I welcome capital investment in early years.
“It is important that capital is allocated where most required and community engagement is maximised throughout the process.”
Local communities will be updated as works progress with consultations to find where in the city new provision is most needed.
Mr Cunningham added: “This is an approach we hope to replicate in other parts of the city and work is underway to identify suitable sites for investment.
“We will be looking to work with third sector partners where ever possible as we seek to build upon on some of highest quality early years provision in the country.
“We want our early year provision to be as flexible and as accessible as possible so we can meet the changing demands of Glasgow’s families.”