First term at EK's newest nursery

Published: Tuesday 21 September 2021

Councillr Katy Loundon and Councillor John Ross with children and staff at the Kilbryde E L C  Hobbit House

A new nursery in East Kilbride saw South Lanarkshire complete its current nursery building programme in time for term.

Kilbryde Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) was the last one of eight new early learning and childcare units being built ahead of the Scottish Governments target for delivering 1140 hours for all eligible children.

Chair of Education Councillor Katy Loudon and Council Leader Councillor John Ross visited Kilbryde Nursery which officially opened its doors to the first children as pupils returned to schools in August.

Councillor Loudon said: “This is a fantastic new facility that will help support families to give their children the best start in life.

“This visit is quite symbolic as we opened seven other new nurseries with pandemic restrictions in place that meant we could not go on site. For me this is an opportunity to also recognise all those involved in design, construction and delivery of all of them, and of course all the staff working in them and every one of our early years establishments supporting local children and families.”

Councillor Ross said: “It is a real tribute to the hard work and careful planning that our own teams and their partners in construction and related trades completed Kilbryde Nursery and all our other new early learning and childcare centres despite the challenges they have faced in the last two years.

“The staff in Kilbryde Nursery, some new and some who already worked with South Lanarkshire, join a team that we should all be proud of.”

The new nurseries opened by South Lanarkshire Council during 2020/21 are:

Avondale ELC, Strathaven

Kirkstyle ELC, Carluke

Lightburn ELC, Halfway

Millburn ELC, Newton

Rooftop ELC, East Kilbride

Springlaw ELC, Springhall

Woodhill ELC, Kirkmuirhill

Kilbryde Nursery has places for up to 184 children and will employ 33 staff once the nursery is operating at full capacity.

Kilbryde ELC Head of Establishment Yvonne Bell said: “We were delighted to welcome the Council Leader and our Chair of Education, Councillor Katy Loudon, to our nursery.

“While the eight new units vary in size and are each designed to fit their location Kilbryde exemplifies the high standards that have been delivered and the fantastic, safe and stimulating environment children across South Lanarkshire are now benefitting from.”

To enquire about places contact the nursery directly by phoning 01355 221060 or email gw20kilbrydeoffice@glow.sch.uk