HMIe Report

Step by Step Nursery in Maryhill is celebrating their excellent report following their recent inspection by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe). The inspector graded all aspects of the inspection either good or very good and she was particularly impressed with the nursery’s innovative approach in the use of Learning Zones. Step by Step, Maryhill, is graded in the top 5 pre-school centres in the greater Glasgow area.

The inspection report praises the ‘caring, sensitive staff and their very positive relationships with children and parents’ and highlighted this as a particular strength of the centre. Some of the staff’s own children attend the nursery which reveals the confidence they have in the care they offer. The three to five year old children in particular were seen to be highly motivated and engaged in their learning.

The nursery prides itself on its links with the local community to extend the children’s learning experiences and they often take the children on outings, for example to the nearby botanic gardens. The nursery’s own outdoor area is partly covered and has a soft surface allowing access to fresh air and an opportunity to run off some energy every day.

The nursery’s curriculum was congratulated for being well planned and delivered through the provision of ‘Learning Zones’ which support the key aspects of children’s development and learning. The children learn about different cultures through celebrations of religious and cultural festivals such as Eid, Christmas, Burns Night and Chinese New Year.

The children get the chance to experiment and explore during ‘messy’ play sessions, learn songs and make movements during action rhymes. They can also dress-up and role-play in the playroom ‘at the travel agent’s’ or the ‘hairdresser’ or use the laptop computer.

The staff is making parents feel very welcome and provide many opportunities for them to be involved in the life of the nursery. They keep interesting profiles to record children’s progress and share these regularly with parents through informal meetings and an annual parents’ evening. Children also get the chance to regularly add special artwork and photographs of their achievements.

This year the nursery will be implementing the new Curriculum For Excellence and using this will continue to deliver high quality programmes for literacy, mathematics and numeracy across all aspects of children’s learning. Children also get the chance to join in plenty of creative and expressive art activities, for example painting and drawings.
The report also praised the bright, attractive and stimulating environment, in particular for babies and very young children’, and states that ‘babies and children under two years are well looked after, they are happy and settled in the nursery and enjoy a range of interesting activities during their day.’

The nursery will continue to deliver high quality care and education for up to 70 children each day and the staff and parents are all delighted that the service has been endorsed so positively by HMIe.

To download the HMIe Report in full please click here.