A pioneering Fife nursery which cares for children outdoors is celebrating high praise from inspectors just months after new hand hygiene policy put its future at risk.
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery in Letham was given the highest rating possible in two out of four key inspection areas and the second highest in the others.
The Care Commission deemed both its quality of care and support and the quality of its management and leadership as excellent, and the quality of its environment and quality of staffing as very good.
As we reported last August, the nursery which looks after children in nearby woodland warned it could be forced to close if the recommendations of a Care Commission report on infection control and hand hygiene in outdoor play were enforced.
But just a month later the proposed requirement for children to wash their hands in water frequently was ditched by the commission, which accepted that wipes and anti-bacterial gel or spray could be used where there was no running water.
The positive report also follows criticism of the nursery by the commission in September 2009, when inspectors deemed its environment and staffing weak.
Nursery manager Cathy Bache said, “We’re all incredibly pleased with the result of this inspection. We see this as recognition and support of a care service that operates in a fundamentally different way, yet is proving to have superb outcomes for the children that attend.
“It is a testament to the hard work and commitment of all the staff and volunteers. As a nursery that has been open for less than three years, this is tremendous, and we would like to thank the Care Commission and all those that have supported us.”
The nursery is a not-for-profit, community-led project. Its team of staff and volunteers lead activities in Letham Woods aimed at allowing children to learn and discover through play according to the Nature as a Teacher curriculum.
In the report, lead Care Commission officer Morag Peggie said, “Very positive feedback from parents and carers was received regarding the quality of all aspects of the service.”