Aberdeen City Council continues with £23m early learning upgrade programme

ABERDEEN City Council has unveiled two refurbished nursery settings as part of its £23 million investment in expanded early learning offering.

The local authority said that it expects the two sites at Tullos and Quarryhill schools to open to children in the next couple of weeks once the care inspectorate completes the approval process.

The Tullos School revamp cost £1.1 million while £580,000 was spent on improving the Quarryhill site with Robertson Construction completing the work on both. Both settings now offer increased capacity for children, with each now holding 48 places.

Both nurseries boast a new bright and airy single activity space, new kitchens in the middle of the play space, upgraded nursery facilities, low level sinks for children, new flooring and décor, new toilets, nappy changing facilities and a laundry. They also allow for outdoor learning through improved access to gardens, while work at Tullos School Nursery brought a multi-purpose room to support family learning.

Co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, councillor Jenny Laing, said, “The facilities at Tullos and Quarryhill are first class and support outdoor learning which is an important feature of the entire building programme. The multi million pound investment we are making now will reap rich rewards in future, especially when we are in a position to offer safely the full expanded 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare.”

Co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, councillor Douglas Lumsden, added, “It’s great to see the first phase of refurbished and new nurseries coming to fruition to support our ambition of raising attainment and quality of life through massive investment in innovative local settings for families.”

Gordon Milne, regional MD for Robertson Construction Eastern, commented, “Aberdeen City Council’s Early Years programme is delivering first class facilities across its education portfolio.  As the delivery partner of choice, Robertson has completed 5 of the facilities and is currently either on-site or in the design phases for the remainder.

“This has been an example of true contractor and customer collaboration, and we look forward to continuing to play our part in assisting the Council achieve its extended Early Years Learning and Childcare hours.”