Doors open at new Cart Mill Family Centre

The doors of the stunning new £1.6million Cart Mill Family Centre opened yesterday (Monday 14 November) to welcome children and staff.

Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 15 November 2016 16:30

As East Renfrewshire Council’s newest family centre, the facility will provide 40 full time equivalent additional early years’ places for children in Busby, Clarkston and Eaglesham.

The nursery has first-class early learning and childcare facilities for children aged from two up to the age of five and will enhance the service already on offer to families in the area.

Children already enrolled at the nursery, who have been in temporary accommodation at neighbouring Williamwood High during the construction, were delighted to get into their new building.

A range of bright, open plan playrooms are provided with direct access to outdoor learning spaces, a kitchen and dedicated dining area. The modern facility will also give families more opportunities to get involved in the life of the centre.

Councillor Elaine Green, Convener for Education and Equalities, said: “The opening of this wonderful new family centre provides first class facilities for the children and families of Busby, Clarkston and Eaglesham.

“The investment in this new Centre is part of a £77 million commitment to improving the education estate in East Renfrewshire over the next three years and I’m tremendously excited at what this means for our children and young people, as well as their parents.”

Head of Centre Sharon McKenna added: “We are delighted to have moved into this wonderful new facility and are so proud of how our children have settled into their beautiful new surroundings. Our new centre offers the children a high quality early learning and childcare experience that is enhanced by the learning environments indoors and outdoors. We are looking forward to working even more closely with our families as we consult with them on what they would like our new family centre to provide for them.”

The family centre is open for 50 weeks of the year, providing parents access to child care during holiday periods.

Parents across Scotland currently enjoy 600 hours of free childcare at local authority run early years establishments, but this will rise to 1140 hours per year by 2020, and East Renfrewshire is working to put in place the additional infrastructure and staffing necessary to meet this requirement.

Applications and information on applying to a pre-five establishment in East Renfrewshire are available by calling 0141 577 3288, e-mailing pre.five@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or visit www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/pre-five.