A NURSERY in Stewarton has been praised for its "warm, caring" environment following a surprise inspection.
Nether Robertland Early Childhood Centre received high marks during an unannounced inspection by the Care Inspectorate in March, with special mention given to the supportive relationships between staff and children.
The nursery, run by East Ayrshire Council, is registered to care for up to 120 children aged three and over who are not yet attending primary school.
In the inspection report, the Care Inspectorate said: "Children were happy, cared for and felt safe, with kind staff who helped them build friendships and feel comfortable in the nursery."
The inspectors rated the centre as "good" across three areas: Leadership, Children play and learn, and Children are supported to achieve.
The report highlighted that children were confident, motivated in their play, and able to make good use of both indoor and outdoor environments.
Staff were commended for delivering a "warm, caring, and respectful" approach that helped children feel secure, supported their confidence, and encouraged positive social interactions.
However, inspectors noted that staff planning did not always fully reflect individual children's interests, leading to lower engagement for some.
Despite this, parents described the nursery as welcoming and caring, and most children were seen to be settled and enjoying their time there.
In its evaluation of leadership, the Care Inspectorate said that while areas for development remained, leaders demonstrated a clear vision and had begun to embed a culture of continuous reflection and improvement.
Improvements made following self-evaluation included changes to room layouts and learning zones, which were found to enhance children's access to resources and sustained engagement in play.
Inspectors also highlighted the importance of free-flow access between indoor and outdoor areas and advised the nursery to ensure this was consistently available throughout the day.
Parents highlighted in the report said that children were “happy, settled and enjoying nursery,” with families particularly valuing outdoor play, communication through learning journals, and opportunities to be involved in nursery life.
Previous areas for improvement, including staff deployment and the development of learning resources, have been addressed since they were raised in March 2023.
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