Temporary huts at two Moray primary schools are poised to be demolished to make way for new nurseries.
The accommodation at Cullen Primary School and Pilmuir Primary School in Forres are due for the revamp as part of the Scottish Government’s drive to increase the amount of childcare available across the country.
A total of £17.5million has been awarded to the region in order from Holyrood to fund the expansion.
A similar £2million project at Milne’s Primary School in Fochabers, which was equally funded by the council and Scottish Government, and a £600,000 revamp of the former Lady Cathcart Community Centre in Buckie have already been completed this year as part of the initiative.
Now plans have been submitted for the schools in Cullen and Forres in order to create more nursery places.
Work on both sites is expected to begin in January. Yesterday, Moray Council confirmed the projects were due to be completed before the end of next year.
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Sonya Warren, chairwoman of the council children and young people’s committee, said: “Having these new buildings to replace the old ones will be a fantastic opportunity to improve the learning for children there.
“There have already been positive stories from the other facilities that have been provided, including single parents being able to go back to work full-time because they’re able to access high-standard childcare.”
The school revamps are part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to expand childcare hours from 600 hours to 1,140 hours for three and four-year-olds, as well as some two-year-olds.
Funding has been awarded to Moray Council to complete projects before 2020.
Designs show the new building at Cullen will have two classrooms while the Pilmuir project will have three – outdoor spaces will also be created to play and learn.
Documents submitted by council planners explain natural materials will be used in order to prevent the buildings feeling “dated” in the future.
The report states: “The building arrangement directly addresses the authority’s aspirations for a designed 21st Century nursery building.”
