The final phase of a £23 million programme to provide hundreds of new nursery places was approved by Aberdeen councillors yesterday.
Members of the local authority’s city growth and resources committee met to debate plans for a massive expansion of childcare in the city.
Tough Scottish government targets mean councils will have to extend the provision of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) from 600 hours to 1,140 hours by August 2020.
With the first two stages of expansion already agreed, councillors were asked to back the third and final stage.
Phase three projects include a newbuild nursery for Danestone School and minor reconfigurations at Dyce, Glashieburn, Greenbrae, Kittybrewster, Forehill, Fernielea, Scotstown and Walker Road.
Phases one and two will deliver re-modelling or extensions to schools and nurseries at Broomhill, Charleston, Culter, Cults, Loirston, Kingswells, Kingsford, Quarryhill, Tullos, Westpark, and Woodside and new builds at Gilcomstoun, Kirkhill, Northfield/Cummings Park, Seaton and Tillydrone.
The plan aims to support children’s educational development, to close the poverty-related attainment gap and to support families in a local setting.
In addition to the planned building works, £1 million is to be made available for grants to partner providers to create additional capacity.
Concerns were raised yesterday by opposition members that the tough timescales for the ambitious programme of works might not be met.