A former pub has been transformed into a nursery complete with an outdoor play area on the rooftop of East Kilbride town centre.
Sitting above the ice rink at The HUB EK Rooftop Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) is at the heart of the town and opened this week.
Rooftop ELC’s huge main room, and a smaller second room for younger children, open directly onto an extensive and entirely new roof garden that has turned a previously unused area into a safe space for children to play and learn.
It is based in the former Shenanigans pub which has lain empty since it closed in 2014.
Head of establishment Angela Roxburgh said: “We are all absolutely raring to go and cannot believe what an incredible job has been done in creating our nursery and giving the children such amazing spaces in and out of doors.”
In addition to Angela Rooftop ELC will employ 17 early years staff including a nursery teacher.
There will also be a full time cook on hand to prepare a range of healthy meals and snacks.
The nursery has capacity for up to 104 children aged 3-5 years and 10 children aged 2-3 years.
Angela added: “The location is absolutely brilliant being in the town centre and handy for the bus and train stations means we can offer a new option that will be really accessible to families from across East Kilbride and to town centre workers.
“We are really looking forward to working with our next door neighbours in East Kilbride Central Library and throughout the town centre, I think we will be able to develop some brilliant partnerships to support and encourage all the children who come to Rooftop ELC.”
Councillor Katy Loudon, chairwoman of education resources, said: “First and foremost Rooftop ELC, as with the rest of our nursery expansion programme, is about delivering the best quality early years and childcare for South Lanarkshire’s children and ensuring families are offered a wide range of choices so they can access the one that best suits their circumstances.
“I am particularly pleased that with Rooftop ELC we have also been able to invest in East Kilbride Town Centre by developing this new facility at The Hub EK.”
Rooftop ELC is one of three new South Lanarkshire Council nurseries opening this year in the East Kilbride area, part of a major expansion of provision with a nee facility also due to open in Strathaven.
Increased capacity in nursery classes in local primary schools has also added to the choices available with Mount Cameron Primary and Murray Primary opening additional places in November last year.
By August South Lanarkshire Council will offer a total of 20 standalone nurseries and 64 nursery classes.
The council also works with partnership providers to give more choice for early learning and childcare provision.
There are now a total of 111 private nurseries, playgroups and childminders listed as partnership providers on South Lanarkshire Council’s early years webpages.
Rooftop ELC can be contacted directly for enquiries about places – email gw20rooftopoffice@glow.sch.uk or telephone 01355 222066.
