A MAUCHLINE childminding service has been praised for providing warm, nurturing care and positive experiences for children following a recent inspection.
The Care Inspectorate awarded Libby's Childminding grades of 'good' for leadership and for children's play and learning, and 'very good' for nurturing care and support.
Inspectors found children were "happy, confident and engaged in play" and experienced "warm, nurturing care" which helped them develop secure relationships, confidence and a sense of belonging.
The report highlighted strong partnerships with families, with parents describing the service as welcoming and supportive.
One parent told inspectors: "The childminder is relaxed and experienced. She has a calm approach to childminding which puts my children at ease."
Inspectors noted the service was well organised, with appropriate policies, training and risk assessments in place.
Children's care needs were being met effectively, while snack times, rest arrangements and daily routines promoted wellbeing and independence.
Leadership arrangements were found to support positive outcomes for children, with the childminder demonstrating a commitment to providing safe and effective care.
The report also praised the childminder's understanding of children's interests, preferences and developmental needs.
To continue improving standards, inspectors said self-evaluation and quality assurance processes were still developing and would benefit from a more structured approach.
They also recommended gathering more formal feedback from children and parents and introducing a "You said, we did" system to show how families' views influence improvements to the service.
The Care Inspectorate further recommended strengthening planning and assessment procedures to better demonstrate children's progress and updating child protection guidance to reflect current safeguarding standards.
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