Aberdeenshire Council has unveiled plans to relocate children from Newmachar School Nursery into a new building.
The modern building has been proposed to help increase the number of nursery places available in the region.
The current nursery building, set within the village’s primary, “suffers from a poor layout” and will be reverted back into classroom use once the new facility is complete.
It can hold up to 40 pupils, but the new nursery will be able to accommodate 80 children – if plans are approved.
Taking inspiration from designs across Scotland, Europe and beyond – the nursery hopes to form close links between staff, children and even parents.
However, discussion with the community on the project have been delayed due to the pandemic.
Planning documents submitted by Aberdeenshire Council state: “Additional facilities will also be created within the new build provision, including a multi-sensory space and parent space, allowing the provision to build closer links with parents and the local community.
“Whilst staff at Newmachar School and Nursery have been involved in the brief development, there is still an opportunity to engage with the local community. It is important to advise the public on the new nursery plans whilst also providing a
setting to issue key information and answer questions.
“Unfortunately, there has not been opportunity to undertake this community consultation prior to planning submission, however it is the intention to set-up a community engagement session in the near future.”
If approved, the new nursery will be a stand alone facility and have a snack kitchen to
encourage pupil interaction.
It is hoped mature woodland near the new nursery will also create a “feel of an enchanted secure play space within a whimsical forest to encourage an active imagination during free flow play.”
The project is part of the council’s wider plan to ensure that the Scottish Government’s commitment to expand core entitlement to childcare from 600 hours to 1140 hours can be met.