The revamped nurseries at Tullos and Quarryhill Schools, two of 27 sites across Aberdeen, including entirely new nurseries, are expected to open to children in the next couple of weeks once the Care Inspectorate completes the approval process.

The facility at Tullos School has been refurbished at a cost of £1.1m while £580k has been spent on improving the Quarryhill site. Both settings offer increased capacity for children with each now offering 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.

The nurseries also offer enhanced access to outdoor nursery gardens to support outdoor learning while Tullos School Nursery now also has a multipurpose room to support family learning.  

Council co-leaders Councillor Jenny Laing and Councillor Douglas Lumsden were delighted with the results of the completed refurbishments.

Councillor 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.

“One thing the people of Aberdeen can be sure of is that the facilities we offer across the city will offer parents and carers the best possible starts in life for their children.”      

Councillor Lumsden said: “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. 

“As we go on through the building phases, people in Aberdeen will see for themselves the fantastic tangible results of our commitment to enhanced and expanded Early Learning and Childcare hours and that we are ensuring that children receive this enhanced offering in the best facilities and settings possible.”

Robertson is building the city’s new nurseries.

Gordon Milne, regional managing director for Robertson Construction Eastern, added: “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.”

The nursery projects are being delivered in three phases, via Procurement Hub Major Projects, as follows:

• Phase 1 will deliver re-modelling, extensions to schools and nurseries or new settings at Duthie Park, Seaton, Tillydrone, Northfield-Cummings Park, Quarryhill, Westpark, Kingsford, Woodside and Tullos;
• Phase 2 will deliver remodelled, extended of entirely new settings at Culter, Cults, Hazlehead Park, Kingswells, Kirkhill, Broomhill, Charleston, Gilcomstoun and Loirtson;
• Phase 3 projects include a new build nursery for Danestone School and minor configurations at Dyce, Glashieburn, Kittybrewster, Forehill, Fernielea and, Scotstown. Work at Greenbrae and Walker Road have already ben completed as part of this phase.

Sophie Quenby, operations manager, procurement hub, said: “We are delighted to have played our part in this amazing project, which will have such a positive impact on young lives. 

“Robertson and Aberdeen City Council have truly utilised the collaborative approach our Major Projects Framework encourages and even in the most difficult of times they are delivering a high-quality project whilst demonstrating excellent value for money.”