Aberdeen City Council ELC Expansion

With the free annual provision of early learning and childcare hours nearly doubling under a Scottish Government initiative to support child development, the eight new and upgraded nurseries for Aberdeen City Council will provide high-quality facilities and the capacity to meet demand in one of the city's poorest areas.

As a whole, these projects were procured through the Procurement Hub – Major Projects framework, speeding up delivery and building in value-for-money and social value guarantees.

In a programme that incorporates 27 Early Learning Centres, priority is being given to three main areas where 30% of families live in poverty and have the highest proportion of pre-school children. Enabling works included bespoke modular building decant facilities to facilitate tight timescales for the new build nurseries. The current Phase 1 includes three new builds and refurbishment and reconfiguration works to five nurseries.

• Enabling works package.
• Remodelling and refurbishment works – classrooms, bathrooms, cloakroom, reception and kitchen areas.
• More child places.
• Free provision increased from 38 to 50 weeks per year.

We used natural ventilation, with skylights for cross ventilation and daylight, to create a healthy and comfortable environment. In the new build nurseries, sliding doors lead out onto covered terraces, providing a transitional zone between internal and external learning environments. Windows are full height to give clear views to the outside, and the activity spaces are designed to be as flexible as possible, with furniture creating subdivisions in rooms.

As a result of our approach, Aberdeen City Council asked us to provide the knowledge and expertise to bring designs and programmes together for all 27 sites in their early years programme.