Purpose-built centres for Carnoustie and Forfar childcare

Brand new purpose-built centres at Carnoustie and Forfar will provide early learning and childcare for around 360 Angus children.

The centres – which will be delivered via £5.2 million of Scottish Government funding – are the biggest individual construction projects being undertaken as part of Angus Council’s Early Years Expansion Programme.

They are being complemented by development and refurbishment work undertaken at other primary schools and nurseries in Angus.

They will be created as a part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to expand the funded early learning and childcare entitlement for all three and four-year-olds, and eligible twoyear-olds, from 600 hours to 1,140 hours per year by August 2020.

Convener of children and learning, Councillor Mark Salmond said: “This is great news for early learning and childcare in Angus and for Carnoustie and Forfar in particular where demand for such provision outstrips supply.

“Both of the new facilities will provide our children with a comprehensive range of services that will give them the very best of starts in life and on their first steps into a life of learning.”

The policy and resources committee will be asked to provide procurement authority so that the project can be put out to tender to construction firms this summer.

It is anticipated that the Carnoustie centre will be completed by late 2019, with the Forfar campus opening by mid2020.

The Carnoustie development will be built at Pitskelly Park and will provide for up to 205 children.

A site options appraisal is under way for the location of the Forfar centre, which will accommodate up to 155 children.

The advent of these new centres and allied work within the Early Years Expansion Programme will also mean up to 100 new jobs for the area.

Work is ongoing to increase the number of staff available to deliver the expanding early years provision across Angus, which includes comprehensive training.