Nurseries and Early Learning Childcare (ELC) settings in South Lanarkshire are being urged to apply for Scottish Government funding to help children take part in outdoor learning and development whatever the weather.

The SNP Government is committing £1million of funding to nurseries and other education centres to buy children warm winter clothes, so they can enjoy playing outside.

It comes as nurseries and other settings are encouraged to take learning outdoors to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The package will be available to all funded ELC centres and will ensure that three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds have access to suitable outdoor clothing.

Commenting, Christina McKelvie MSP said:

“Outdoor play is an incredibly important aspect of any child’s learning and development, so it is extremely important that we can maintain that during the current pandemic.

“No child should go without winter clothing when it gets colder and that is why the Scottish Government is plugging the gap for parents and ELC settings that are unable to provide clothing.

“I would urge all nurseries and ELC centres in South Lanarkshire to apply for their share of the £1m funding when it opens in January 2021 to ensure no child goes without an extremely important stage of their learning."