Following an unannounced visit by a care inspector, a Midlothian school nursery has been praised for its inspirational leadership and ‘culture of excellence’
Children attending Newtongrange Primary School nursery in Dalkeith impressed the inspector with their strong sense of “ownership and pride in their learning”.
The nursery was given the highest grade available for its leadership and play and learning provision of Excellent following the visit with support for children in its care graded Very Good.
Councillor Ellen Scott, Midlothian Council’s education spokesperson said the whole school team and families should be ‘incredibly proud of the outstanding achievement”.
The inspector said staff at the nursery were passionate and ambitious and worked with families to ensure parents and children were able to get involved in developing the service.
They praised support for learning in the day to day activities for children which targeted learning including literacy, communication and the STEM subjects (science, technologies, engineering and mathematics) particularly in the outdoor garden which was described as being ‘full of wonder and excitement’.
Their report said: “The development of outdoor science, technologies, engineering and maths enriched children’s learning experiences. Gardening projects helped children connect with nature, sustainability and the wider world.”
Councillor Scott welcomed the recognition of the nursery’s approach.
She said: “A particular strength of the nursery has always been its outdoor learning environment, where children are encouraged to learn through exploration, discovery and hands-on experiences.
“From planting, growing and harvesting food to investigating the natural world around them, children are given daily opportunities to develop curiosity, resilience and a deeper understanding of where food and nature come from. These rich outdoor experiences help bring learning to life and support children’s confidence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
“The nursery and wider school also have strong links with the local community, with children regularly attending the community garden and learning alongside local residents.
“Combined with high-quality, child-centred play, strong partnerships with families and a commitment to continuous improvement, it is easy to see why the nursery has achieved such impressive results. The headteacher, staff, children and families should all be incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement.”
The report comes just days after the council’s cabinet heard Hawthorn Family Learning Centre, in nearby Mayfield, had also earned an Excellent grading for its leadership and child support.
The centre, which is the only one of its kind in Midlothian providing support to children, parents and carer through early year placements and family learning, was praised for the strong relationships between staff and families and a family centred approach.
Midlothian Council said a report on the Newtongrange Nursery inspection findings would be presented to the next meeting of cabinet next month.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
