STAFF at an Irvine nursery have been commended for their hard work after getting their best inspection report ever.

Elderbank Early Years Centre received a 6/Excellent for the Quality of Care and Support – the highest possible score and a 5/Very Good for Quality of Environment.

The glowing report found that children at the nursery are ‘happy, settled and confident’ and that ‘staff put children and their families’ wellbeing at the heart of everything they did’.

The Irvine nursery was inspected in December of last year and found that parents who used the service were full of praise for the staff. The report says: “The high level of parental involvement had aided a close relationship between parents and staff and levels of confidence in the centre and the staff is very high.”

Head Teacher Jacqueline Robertson said: “We are all absolutely thrilled. It’s deserved recognition for all our brilliant early years’ practitioners and staff who go the extra mile to make a difference.

“The most important thing for all the staff is that the children are happy, content and developing new skills. It’s great that the inspectors recognised this. We are very lucky to have such wonderful young people and supportive parents/carers. It’s a real team effort and this report is a reflection of the input of everyone involved with the Centre.”

Councillor John Bell, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Employment, added: “This is a fantastic inspection report so a huge well done to Ms Robertson and her team. They clearly do a fantastic job. Early Years is such an important stage in a young person’s development and it’s clear that the young people at Elderbank are being given a fantastic start to their educational journey.”