A HELENSBURGH nursery has been praised for its excellent support for children after the regulator awarded it the highest possible grades.

Lomond Nursery, in James Street, has celebrated the findings of the Care Inspectorate report which described the quality of care, support and staff as “outstanding” and “sector leading”.

The school is the only nursery to achieve these grades across the Argyll and Bute area and has been commended for delivering such high standards across all levels, including those not officially assessed.

The report recognised that the service – part of Lomond School, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017 – was “working in an excellent way to achieve the best outcomes they could for children and their families”.

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It also highlighted staff interaction as “sensitive, responsive and very well judged,” adding: “They were working very well together as a team to create an inclusive, nurturing environment where children and their families felt welcome, listened to, valued and respected.”

It went on to say: “The children are happy, achieving, confident about expressing their thoughts, views and feelings”.

During the unannounced two-day inspection, which took place in the last week of March, the inspectors saw children create a “snack cafe”, learn how to make fruit kebabs, design menus, calculate costs and change real money.

They also created a “spaceship”, which was constructed using recycled modelling materials.

The report highlighted the focus on outdoor learning, saying “staff have created a rich learning environment both inside and outdoors, that was inspiring children to be creative, curious and inventive”.

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The youngsters, aged three to five, used a mud kitchen, built an obstacle course of blocks of wood, planks and crates, practised weaving, sung songs and listened to stories.

One parent said: “Lomond School is excellent. They provide a first-class quality of care to my child. All staff are welcoming, highly skilled and extremely caring towards all the children in the nursery.

“It is a lovely, stimulating environment for my child to learn in.”

Another parent said: “Lomond School provides excellent facilities and surroundings for all the children that attend. My child is exceptionally happy at the nursery, loves going to the outdoor lessons, helping at the snack café and playing with the wide variety of toys, books and craft items. As parents, the staff are friendly, welcoming and know my child extremely well.”

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Ailsa Lawn, head of Lomond’s junior school, said: “We are incredibly proud of the level of care and education our nursery staff provide and are delighted that this has been recognised by the Care Inspectorate.

“Our nursery is the entry point to our junior school and we want to ensure that the opportunities and experiences open to every pupil are of the very highest standard right from the start.”

“All parents want to be reassured that their child will be treasured and nurtured by the people who care for them and we are incredibly privileged to have such a dedicated and skilled nursery team who take great pride in the relationships they develop with every child, and their families.”

The Care Inspectorate awards grades from one: unsatisfactory, to six: excellent, based on a service’s performance and ability to meet certain criteria.

Lomond Nursery was previously awarded grade four: good, for its service following another unannounced inspection in January 2016.

The latest report can be viewed in full, here.