Top marks for Watten ELC after unannounced inspection visit
A Caithness nursery is celebrating after a recent positive inspection praised the service and the staff, recognising that "Children were cared for by staff who were warm and nurturing.”
Watten Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) setting, run by local childcare charity CALA (Care and Learning Alliance), received an unannounced inspection on January 30, 2025, from regulator the Care Inspectorate.
The inspection team stated: "Children benefitted from a happy, caring and committed staff team who were passionate about providing high-quality care and support. As a result, children felt loved and valued by the people who cared for them."
The report highlighted discussions and comments from parents and carers, as well as positive comments, such as "The staff are fantastic; they're kind and thoughtful; they take the time to really know the children and help them develop in ways that suit their personalities," and "Staff genuinely care about the children and strive to provide the best experiences they can.”
The inspector also noted that "children benefitted from their families being warmly welcomed into the service. They were enabled to support their children to settle in and participate in stay and play sessions.”
It also said that "children's play and learning were enhanced through strong connections to the wider community. Opportunities had been developed to support intergenerational learning. This encouraged children to build valuable connections with members of their wider community.
"All parents felt communication was effective. Meaningful relationships had been formed with families who told us they felt included in the nursery community. This holistic approach resulted in children who were happy and learning, and families felt valued and included."
Jaci Douglas, chief executive of CALA said: “We are so proud of the wonderful staff we have at Watten ELC and the strong, positive relationships they have with children and parents.
“The care, nurture and support they provide contribute towards children being able to safely express their needs and to feel safe and secure. Comments from the inspector such as, 'Children and families benefitted from a committed manager and staff team. This created a happy and welcoming ethos in the service, promoting a positive atmosphere for children to play and learn,’ are to be very much welcomed.”
The report also recognised that "high-quality snack and lunchtime experiences promoted opportunities for children to develop independence and skills for life. For example, children poured their own milk, prepared and served their own snack, and cleared away their dishes.
“The snack environment promoted a sociable, nurturing experience. The addition of a tablecloth, real crockery and cutlery as well as placemats, supported a homely and relaxed atmosphere. At snack and lunchtimes, staff sat with children which provided opportunities to promote close attachments and develop language skills."
Ms Douglas added, "The recognition of the highly skilled staff supporting the children in their learning, creativity and curiosity is so welcomed.
“It's great to see the report highlight that 'Children chose to play outdoors or indoors. Outdoors, children were offered a variety of opportunities to be creative, develop problem-solving skills and have fun. We observed children assessing risk and having fun with large loose parts. They also had fun playing in water and digging in the mud.
‘They were very excited to show us bird food they had made for feeding the birds in the nursery garden. This gave children a sense of responsibility and encouraged good discussions with staff about different bird species and their eating habits. The outdoor area had a well-resourced literacy shed with materials to extend their play and develop early handwriting. As a result, children were happy and developing lifelong skills.’ "
The Care Inspectorate graded the service as 5 (very good) and 4 (good) and the full report can be found on the Care Inspectorate website at Inspection Reports.
Further information on CALA's Watten ELC and how to enrol can be found at: www.careandlearningalliance.co.uk
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