Dumbarton nursery given top marks by inspectors

Nov 28 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

THERE were stars all round at a Dumbarton nursery school this week when it got a glowing report from government inspectors.

The Andrew B Cameron Early Education and Childcare Centre recorded some of the best marks ever for a local school.

The team that visited the 100-pupil Bellsmyre nursery in June this year awarded it one “excellent”, three “very good” and one “good” in five key sections.

Only one area – the recording of children’s progress – was identified as needing improvement by the integrated inspection team, which also included representatives of the Care Commission.

The centre’s educational environment, children’s learning experiences, staff involvement in the life and work of the centre and their leadership were highlighted as its main strengths.

Children were also described having “excellent learning experiences” and were “very excited” about their learning as well as being confident, independent, happy and well behaved.

The report also recognised their ability to concentrate well and to work alongside each other and the staff. The children were also seen as being very caring of one another and their surroundings.

It praised staff for knowing the children well and offering guidance, support and challenge, and the positive relations with parents. Efforts made to prepare the children for primary school were also highlighted.

Staff were noted as having high expectations of success for all children and working closely with parents to achieve it.

The head of centre was also singled out for her effective leadership and successful development and improvement of the quality of care and education, and was well supported by an “enthusiastic and dedicated” team.

Children’s learning experiences were described as “excellent” while meeting learning needs, improvements in performance and the curriculum were all “very good”. Improvements through self evaluation were rated as “good”.

The report concluded: “Staff, children and their parents have a clear idea of what they want Andrew B Cameron Early Education and Childcare Centre to be like and they work very well together to achieve it. As a result of the very good quality of education provided by the centre, we will make no further visits following this inspection.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council’s education department said: “Andrew B Cameron Nursery received an exceptionally good report. One of the comments made about children’s experiences, in the feedback, was that the nursery had the WOW factor.

“This was a pilot inspection and was highly praised by the staff and the head of centre.”