(Photograph) - Things were looking up for three-year-old Andrew Pickering and Scottish education minister Cathy Jamieson when she visited First Step Community Nursery in Hamilton, North Lanarkshire. The nursery has 24 Sure Start places and Ms Jamieson praised the work of the programme. 'Sure Start Scotland funding enables local authorities to target additional support at families. Delivering this support is a priority if we are to close the opportunity gap.' Photo Ashley Coombes/ATOM