The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Council officially receives keys to new £2m nursery
Facility completed in time to accept youngsters for next term
A new council nursery in Moray has been officially handed over by contractor Morrison Construction.
The £2 million building is a significant investment in the Forres area as part of the Scottish Government’s extension of funded early learning care (ELC).
Pilmuir Nursery will help the council meet the requirement to provide 1,140 hours of funded ELC for all three- and four-yearolds, and eligible two-yearolds.
This comes despite those efforts being postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Senior project manager for the ELC Expansion at Moray Council, Robin Paterson, said it was “exciting” that the nursery is ready for the new term in August.
He said: “We’ll have a number of children rejoining us who have seen the construction progressing over the last two years as well as our new intake.
“We look forward to them exploring the light, airy and spacious building that has been fantastically designed for a modern ELC offering.
“Incorporating the outdoor learning space makes this an even more exciting learning environment and the staff team here will be ready with a warm welcome for the children to help them settle in to their new nursery.”
Site manager Dawn Marshall, of contractors Morrison Construction added: “Often our local authority projects are schools so it has been a very positive experience being involved in a new build for early years.”
Pilmuir Nursery manager
Bev Ashworth added: “Morrison Construction have been wonderful to work with and have helped us involve the children at each stage.
“After the Covid-19 lockdown experience we’re very excited to be reopening in August with a brand new nursery.”
The nursery will operate year round, giving parents and carers more opportunities to work, train or study.
It can accommodate up to 72 children and creatively utilises the outdoor space available.
The 1,140 hours of ELC equates to around 30 hours each during term-time.
There are plans to make the building available for community use in the evenings but this is on hold until after the pandemic.