A Barrhead nursery has been praised for its nurturing care towards children in a positive report from the Care Inspectorate. Arthurlie Family Centre received an unannounced inspection over three days in October.
The centre on Auburn Drive is provided by East Renfrewshire Council and is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 170 children not yet attending primary school.
On a six-point scale where one is unsatisfactory and six is excellent, it was rated as a four or ‘good’ across all four categories evaluated by the Care Inspectorate.
The four categories were care, play and learning, the setting, leadership and the staff team. Several key messages were also contained within the report.
Inspectors said the centre worked well with parents and professionals to support children and families and provided individual support through nurturing and caring interactions.
Staff were found to be kind, caring and nurturing in their interactions with the children and created a positive environment that allowed the children to feel safe and secure.
Inspectors said that staff knew children well and could tell them about children’s individual needs, supports and strategies. Lunch and snack experiences were found to be varied throughout the centre.
Within the watchdog’s report, it stated: “Children were happy, settled and we could see they had built up positive relationships with all staff.”
The staff were also praised by inspectors and parents. The report stated: “Staff were enthusiastic about their role and spoke positively about their work. They valued the positive relationships that had developed within their team and felt well supported in their work.”
While parents told the inspectors: “Staff are friendly and welcoming. My child seems happy when in the service.”
Another commented: “My child has developed many positive relationships with staff and children.”
The report also noted, however, that the play and learning experiences on offer varied in quality throughout the centre. Inspectors added that the planning of play and learning should be reviewed to help children progress and to identify next steps in their learning.
Inspectors also identified a number of hazards and concerns in relation to flooding and drainage issues in the three to five-year-old garden as well as maintenance required inside.
To prepare for the inspection, the inspection body reviewed information about the service, including previous inspection findings, registration information, information submitted by the service and intelligence gathered since the service registered.
In making their evaluations of the centre they spoke with and observed children using the service, contacted families through questionnaires to gather their views, spoke with staff and management, observed practice and daily life and reviewed documents.
The report said that no complaints have been upheld since the last inspection.
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