Monday June 1st 2026
Kirkhope Nursery
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A Scottish Borders Council-run village nursery has received a ringing endorsement following an unannounced inspection.
A representative of the Care Inspectorate visited Kirkhope Nursery in Ettrickbridge near Selkirk at the end of April.
The service is registered to provide care for a maximum of 20 children at any one time, aged between three years and entry into primary school.
Key findings were that children benefited from responsive play and learning experiences that were carefully balanced to support their development, curiosity and engagement.
Strong partnerships and communication with families enhanced outcomes for children’s learning and well-being.
Professional learning was “meaningful and impactful”, strengthening staff practice, improving interactions and enriching learning experiences across the setting.
Safeguarding and personal planning were well managed, ensuring children’s health, well-being and protection needs were clearly recorded, monitored and acted upon.
Nurturing care and support were a significant strength, with children benefiting from warm relationships, emotional security and responsive care.
The service was rated “very good” for its leadership, quality of play and learning and supporting children to achieve.
The report states: “During the inspection, children were observed to be happy, confident and engaged in play.
“They experienced a wide range of child-led, exploratory learning opportunities that supported collaboration and problem solving.
“Parents expressed satisfaction with the experiences on offer to their children, with one telling us, ‘my child has taken part in various activities from role play to a visit to the local farm to meet the lambs’. Another told us, ‘the activities have helped develop my child’s learning’.”
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