A GOUROCK nursery is celebrating being the first in Inverclyde with an outdoor classroom.

Kids at Binnie Street Children's Centre are making good use of the new space, which allows them to go outside even when the weather is bad.

The wooden classroom has a large glass frontage and the stairs leading up to it can be used for concerts.

Head of centre Ruth Wylie said: "It provides an extension to our outdoor environment and is a great asset for outdoor learning.

"We have started using it and we hope to use it as a hub for science, technology, engineering and maths.

"The children have really being enjoying using it."

The new hub is kitted out like any other classroom but with the advantage of leading to the garden and play equipment.

It took seven weeks to complete.

The nursery accommodates 80 children and is open to two to five-year-olds.

The classroom is one of several to be installed in local schools, family centres and nurseries at a cost of £640,000.

Other projects will be completed at Blairmore Nursery, Rainbow Family Centre, Gibshill Children’s Centre, Kilmacolm Primary School and Wemyss Bay Primary School.

The new classrooms are part of a major £6m expansion plan designed to double free early learning nursery and childcare hours available from Inverclyde Council.

From next year the hours will increase from 600 hours to 1,140 a year.

Refurbishment work will take place at Blairmore Nursery, St Joseph’s Primary School, St Francis’ Primary School, Craigmarloch School and the Gourock YAC hall and new nursery provision will be built at Larkfield Children’s Centre and Park Farm in Port Glasgow.