Wester Ross forest nursery at Leckmelm near Ullapool gets glowing support from Care Inspectorate after unannounced visit
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A FOREST nursery in Wester Ross has been given a glowing report by inspectors.
The Kinder Croft Outdoor CIC offers day care to pre-school youngsters aged three and up in a large woodland setting.
The Care Inspectorate’s unannounced inspection focused on how the facility, which is based at Leckmelm Woods near Ullapool, had coped during the coronavirus pandemic and rated the service “very good” in all areas – at level five on a scale of six for excellence.
Inspectors found the site offered a very wide range of opportunities to children for exploration and learning.
A large wooden shelter is also used for a range of activities, while there are separate toilets and changing buildings.
Children were “extremely happy and relaxed” and were “confident and eager to learn”.
Parents and carers also gave extremely positive feedback during the inspection, describing how their children had thrived and made tremendous progress since first attending, with self-confidence and self-esteem growing.
Care and support provided during lockdown was also rated as very good, with the emotional well-being of children “very much a priority”.
Children all had personal plans and staff were proactive in maintaining contact and offering support during the pandemic and all were fully aware of, and confident in, their roles and responsibilities in terms of protecting children.
The inspection report also found infection prevention and control measures to be very good, with the outdoor nature of the facility contributing to reducing the risk of infection significantly.
Clear risk assessments were in place and routinely updated with changing government advice.
Hygiene standards were also praised by inspectors, with youngsters having a good understanding of why hand washing was important.
