Renfrewshire Nurseries given top marks by Inspectors

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Nurseries, both private and council owned, have been given top marks by independent inspectors.

Inspectors from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and the Care Commission carried out inspections of 35 of the nurseries in Renfrewshire during the period 2003 to 2005. The nurseries received glowing reports from the inspectors, who gave them their top marks ‘very good’ for progress in all key areas of their performance.

In addition to receiving ‘good’ or ‘ very good’ for communication and language, the inspectors highlighted the progress in maths and IT at many of the council and partner nurseries inspected. In health education, the best examples of practice within council operated nurseries showed that children were provided with very good quality planned programmes of regular daily indoor and outdoor energetic play. Children benefited from challenging, enjoyable, activities that extended their play experience by having input from sports coaches and specialists from the ‘Have a Heart Paisley’ programme.

Councillor Roy Glen, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Lifelong Learning and Work Policy Board, said: “We are delighted with the feedback from the inspectors. It is encouraging to see that we have some of the best nurseries around, both council and privately operated. Parents should take great reassurance from these findings, knowing that their children will receive the best standards of education and care whilst at nursery. The excellent reports of each of the nurseries inspected, reflect the hard work put in by all the nursery staff and parents.”

Renfrewshire Council‘s Education and Leisure Director, John Rooney, is equally impressed with the inspectors reports. Whilst he is encouraged with the positive feedback, he is keen to keep up the good standards and ensure that Renfrewshire’s nurseries strive towards excellence. He added: “We will provide support to establishments in implementing ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’. We will include more opportunities for children to be actively involved in music making and inventing. We will also provide greater scope for problem solving activities across the curriculum, where children are allowed to explore and investigate in a wide range of contexts will be encouraged.”

Renfrewshire Council has successfully built a strong working relationship with their partner private nurseries . Partner nurseries use the Council’s ‘Assessment Document 0-5 years’ as an aid to facilitate the assessment process. Assessment information is transferred to primary schools using the council’s transfer of information record for pre-school children. This information is also shared with parents, carers and other agencies as appropriate.

Press Release: Friday 10 February 2006