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Clackmannanshire Council Online

Praise for Menstrie ELC after Care Inspectorate visit

Published on:

16

February 2023

Menstrie Early Learning and Childcare Centre has been highly praised in a newly-published Care Inspectorate Report.

The ELC was visited by an inspection team on Tuesday 6 December 2022.

The inspection team evaluated four key areas as ‘very good’.

These were:

  • Care, play and learning
  • Setting
  • Leadership
  • Staff team

The key messages from the unannounced inspection were:

  • Children felt valued, loved, and respected because their care and support was delivered in a warm, kind, and compassionate way
  • Staff respected children's choices and worked with them to build on their learning together
  • A shared vision for the service created a happy and welcoming ethos in the service

Inspectors noted that interactions between the staff and the children were warm, kind, compassionate, and children were listened to and benefitted from a calm, welcoming environment.

A nurturing rights based approach to delivering personal care meant children were supported with dignity and choice.

It was reported that staff who were described as highly skilled, knew all the children well and had developed relation ships with their  families.

Staff were also consistent in their approach in supporting children's play and the layout of the open planned environment enabled children to have space to relax and spend time alone.

The two-year-old children, 'Menstrie Minis,' had a nurturing space, but also had the freedom to play or eat in other areas with siblings or older children if they chose.

Children had free access to the outdoor space with staff recognising the positive impact being outdoors had on children's health and wellbeing.

The report went onto praise the positive work culture, stating that strong leadership in the service supported staff to develop confidence and knowledge in their roles.

Education spokesperson, Councillor Graham Lindsay said: “This is a wonderful report and a real cause for celebration.

“Once  again we can demonstrate  the high quality early learning and childcare that is provided in Clackmannanshire, helping our children to get the very best start in life.

“Well done to the highly-skilled staff at Menstrie ELC for working so hard for the children there resulting in such a positive report.”