Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 21 December 2020 11:30
Crookfur Family Centre has now welcomed its first children through the doors, despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is the first of six new nursery facilities, which are being created by the Council as part of a £28m investment to support increased free childcare for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, to be completed. This investment also includes some upgrades to existing nurseries and new sports pavilions included within two of the new buildings.
The state-of-the-art Crookfur Family Centre, which will operate for 50 weeks of the year, provides large play rooms, a quieter rest zone area, a baking area for the children and children’s dining space. The fantastic facilities also allow children to take part in a range of outdoor activities, with a boot room, toilets accessible from the outside area and a covered outdoor learning den, as well as the wider opportunities provided by being located within the park.
Built on the site of the former Crookfur Pavilion, the facility will provide 120 places for local children and also has an area for use by the community and changing rooms for community sport.
Councillor Paul O’Kane, Convener for Education and Equalities, said: “I’m delighted to see the first of our six new nurseries now open to children and it won’t be long until the others are completed too. We have worked so hard to deliver these fantastic facilities, which will support our youngest learners at the start of their educational journey. We are committed to providing the very best learning environments for all the children and young people in East Renfrewshire and it is clear from the new Crookfur Family Centre that we have achieved just that.”
Crookfur Primary Head Teacher Sheen McGuigan, who will manage the new family centre, added: “Our children and their families can’t wait to get settled into this amazing new building. We are delighted to get the children in before Christmas to give them a chance to explore their new surroundings before the break. Everything about the new family centre is fantastic, especially the outdoor space which will allow all our children to expand their curiosity through play. The staff are just as excited as the children and we’re looking forward to working closely with families as part of this new adventure for Crookfur.”
The six new nurseries being built by the Council are an integral part of the area’s commitment to expanding its early learning and childcare provision.
Local authorities currently provide 600 free hours a year and this is being increased to 1,140 by the Scottish Government, which is in effect a rise to 30 hours per week, matching the time children spend each week in primary school.
In addition to the Crookfur facility, the new nurseries are being built within Overlee Park which also includes a community sports facility, a replacement for Glenwood Family Centre on an adjacent site, two new centres within the grounds of Busby and Eaglesham primaries, and a new nursery class at Cross Arthurlie Primary. The new facilities will open in early 2021, with Overlee Family Centre to be available from later in the year.
Acclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!
READ MORETreasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MOREChildren attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MOREPubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MOREThis summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MOREThe inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MOREScotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Council raised the Armed Forces Day flag today to mark Armed Forces Day which will be held on Saturday 28th June.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MOREScotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MOREA Busby pub is one of six locals to have been selected from 2,400 around the UK to receive a prestigious Recognition Award from Heineken-owned Star Pubs.
READ MOREEastwood Park Theatre has announced a whole host of brand-new shows featuring well-known faces.
READ MORERefugee Festival Scotland gets underway today, kick-starting nine days of dance performances, film screenings, visual art and photography exhibitions and community events across the country.
READ MORETickets are on sale for an exclusive Superman screening at Vue venues in Scotland, with fans in for an extra special treat to take home.
READ MOREThe paperback edition of Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands has just been released - and is already making waves.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure has launched a search for local sports supporters in the community to recognise at its annual Sport and Physical Activity Awards.
READ MOREScottish Building Society marked its Annual General Meeting (AGM) by announcing funding to support eight local charities and good causes across the country.
READ MOREVisitors are invited to come along and get up-close to some amazing cars, set against the beautiful backdrop of Loch Lomond, as part of a great day out.
READ MOREBark by popular demand, the Gordon Setter Parade returns on Saturday 5th July as part of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair, held at the stunning Scone Palace.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres are inviting families across the UK along to its stores on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June to spend a magical afternoon filled with fun activities and good food.
READ MORECineworld is launching a brand new 4DX Father's Day gift experience, containing two 4DX tickets and ponchos, perfect for experiencing the new live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" film.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Rose-themed Grow How workshop this June, sharing top tips for caring for this beloved flowering plant.
READ MOREScotland's longest-running hospitality awards turn 30 - and they want you to have your say!
READ MORELoch Lomond Unplugged, our FREE showcase of talented buskers and singer/songwriters, is this weekend and we’re super excited to welcome great acts from across Scotland and beyond!
READ MORE