Published: Monday 14 September 2020
Staff at South Lanarkshire Council’s newest nursery have been busy preparing for the arrival of its first young learners.
Woodhill Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in Kirkmuirhill opens its doors to children this week (Monday 14 September 2020) with staff starting on site earlier this month to get everything ready for the first term.
South Lanarkshire is engaged in a large-scale programme to expand early years capacity with the construction of new nurseries and the expansion of existing ones.
The Head of Establishment for the new Woodhill ELC, Lesley Cowling, said: “We were very excited to get into the building and to begin preparing for the arrival of our first intake of children.
“This new, purpose built setting has been designed from the ground up to be the best early years learning environment possible, we have fantastic inside and outside space which will support the team in delivering a huge variety of interesting and exciting activities.”
The Woodhill ELC offers 63 places in total while, once completed, the new build and expansion programme across South Lanarkshire will have increased capacity in the council’s early years units by 1,658 places.
South Lanarkshire’s Chair of Education Resources, Councillor Katy Loudon, said: “I am delighted to see the new team at Woodhill ELC starting to settle in and prepare for the arrival of the first intake of children.
“I know there is a great combination of staff with many years of experience in early years education and those just starting out on their careers and I am sure the children will benefit from that mix.”
South Lanarkshire Council Executive Director of Education, Tony McDaid, said: “This is an important milestone in our expansion of early years capacity.
“Inevitably our programme was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic but it is a tribute to all those involved that we have been able to get back on course relatively early in the recovery phase and are in the position for work to resume in a safe and responsible manner.”
If you are a parent or carer interested in applying for a place for a child in Woodhill Early Learning and Childcare then contact the nursery by email or by calling 07385 377209.
Parents of children aged three or about to turn three can find more information about nursery placement on the Early Years and Childcare pages of the South Lanarkshire Council website. Some children are eligible for funded childcare places from age two, eligibility criteria can also be found on the council’s website.
