LOCALS have welcomed plans for a new nursery school in Dalmarnock.

The Evening Times told in September last year how council bosses had opened a public consultation on the £4.3million closure and replacement of Elba Lane Nursery.

It came in the face of a predicted sharp rise in roll numbers in the east end of the city.

Now education bosses have reported on the findings of the formal consultation, which ran from October 5 to November 20, 2015.

The new nursery, to be built on Silverdale Street, will have 12 full time equivalent places for under twos and 128 full time equivalent places for two to five year olds.

It will provide a 50-week service in place of the current term-time provision for children aged six weeks to five years.

Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning said: “Our children deserve the very best start in life and the new schools and refurbishments across the city as part of the council’s £255 million pounds school building strategy is delivering our commitment to the education of Glasgow’s young people.

“This multi-million pound investment in Dalmarnock will create a new school and nursery and is a direct result of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“These facilities will educate generations of children in the heart of the former Athletes’ Village and beyond, delivering another tangible Games legacy for the area.”

A public meeting was held to discuss the plans, which no one attended, but further meetings with local residents and parents had positive feedback.

A report from Education Scotland said: "The proposal has potential to offer considerable educational benefits for families living in the area and for those who will move into the community.

"The timing of the release of housing in the area has created an immediate need for additional nursery and primary school places in the area."

Elba Lane nursery is currently in a poor state of repair, with frequent leaks in the ceiling and problems with the heating system.

Children do not have full access to outdoor play areas.

The Education Scotland report adds: "The outdoor area does not allow children free-flow access to this space and has to be planned.

"The council’s proposals will help develop children’s learning experiences further, particularly in outdoor learning.

"Children will have increased and better access to outdoors, including fresh air and space to play.

"Overall, the quality of facilities will be much improved both in and out of doors.

"In addition, being built on the same campus as the proposed new primary school has the potential to increase and enhance the transition arrangements for children and families who attend both provisions."

There are also plans to build a new £13 million Dalmarnock Primary School.

The council's executive committee approved proposals to build the new non-denominational primary school and stand-alone nursery on February 5 last year.

The catchment area in the north east of the city was also changed to cover Dalmarnock, Quarry Brae and Wellshot primary schools.

Over the next decade the primary age population is predicted to rise by 13 to 18 per cent with much of this in the East End where 1,400 new homes are scheduled to be built.

Dalmarnock Primary School was opened in 2007 to accommodate 348 children.

The council has since been forced to build modular classrooms to accommodate the current roll of 549 pupils.

The new primary and nursery will help ease overcrowding.