Have a say on nursery move
Consultation on plans for Kinnoull youngsters to relocate to Rio House
Kinnoull Nursery is optimistic about the proposed move to Rio House A consultation is to be held over a Fair City nursery’s ambitious plans to move into new premises.
Kinnoull Nursery is holding the open community consultation on Thursday, March 22, to discuss its application to lease Rio House, including all the potential uses of the building by the community.
The nursery, which has welcomed children from Kinnoull, Gannochy, Potterhill, Bridgend and Kinfauns for over 40 years, has capacity for 30 children and also provides a preschool breakfast club.
However, the nursery, which urgently needs new premises, has applied under the Community Empowerment Act to lease Rio House, Dundee Road, from Perth and Kinross Council.
Due to the restrictions of its current location overlooking the Norie Miller Walk, Kinnoull Nursery can only offer morning sessions to children. But due to rapid growth in the local community and a rising need for more flexible childcare for working families, there are increased demands on the service.
The nursery must also be able to offer all-day sessions and accommodate more children to meet Scottish Government aims to double its free early learning and childcare provision by 2020.
Nursery manager Elizabeth Scott said: “Leasing Rio House would secure the future of Kinnoull Nursery and allow it to grow and flourish.
“Through a Community Asset Transfer, we can retain this wonderful asset within public ownership and for community use.
“Rio House is in an ideal location next to Kinnoull Primary School, which means that the school will have access to facilities it lacks, and the wider community will have a facility which can be developed to meet its needs.”
City centre ward councillor Andrew Parrott, who has supported the nursery’s application from the start, said: “Kinnoull Primary School is one of the few primary schools in Perth that don’t have a preschool nursery within or attached to the school.
“It also lacks the outdoor space that the children need. Rio House would provide this space and allow the nursery and school to become properly connected at last.
“This would allow for greater collaboration, shared working, more green space, better planning and an even smoother transition from nursery to school.”
The nursery staff and parents are keen to gather support from members of the local community and hear any ideas about how the building could be used, including by groups, organisations or businesses.
The team would also love to hear from anyone who could provide skills or expertise in developing the project.
The consultation is on Thursday, March 22, at Kinnoull Church Hall, from 7-8pm.
Any enquiries can be sent to info@ kinnoullchurchnursery.co.uk.