A CLACKS early learning centre has been praised by the Care Inspectorate following a surprise visit.

Craigbank Early Learning & Childcare received an unannounced inspection in November last year.

The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate how well children are being supported during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the four areas inspected – quality of care and support, quality of environment, quality of staffing and quality of management and leadership – three were given a rating of very good, the highest rating.

Quality of environment was the only area not to receive top marks, receiving a four out of five.

Cllr Graham Lindsay, education spokesperson, praised the ELC for their efforts in creating a safe environment for Wee County children.

He said: "The findings of this Care Inspectorate report are cause for pride in our early learning centres and our dedicated ELC staff who are creating a warm and nurturing environment for our children.

"This is a fantastic report for one of our newest childcare settings and I'd like to congratulate everybody involved."

The Care Inspectorate evaluated the service based on key areas that are vital to the support and wellbeing of children experiencing care during the pandemic.

The inspection notes strong, nurturing interactions between staff and children. This creates a positive and nurturing environment which supports children to manage their emotions and build emotional resilience.

The report also notes that the voice of children and families was apparent.

Children and families were included in agreeing children's progress and next steps. Children were kept safe with regular child protection training for staff.

Referring to the quality of environment, the report stated that as the sink in the children's area was unsuitable for younger children, children were washing their hands unsupervised in the toilets leaving staff unable to monitor the effectiveness of their handwashing.

Staff were also found to be kind, caring and compassionate and a strong focus on relationships was evident within the setting.

The report also noted staff felt supported both professionally and personally by the management team and the positive ethos and culture contributed to children's progress and wellbeing.

Visit tinyurl.com/4kcu4u7c to view the full report.