THE boss of a Melrose nursery says staff are buzzing after a thumbs up from the Care Inspectorate.

Busy Bees Nursery is a childcare facility located close to Borders General Hospital.

It provides day care to a maximum of 75 children up to primary school age.

The nursery has transformed its fortunes for the better after receiving a so-so report from the Care Inspectorate after a visit in January 2023.

At that time inspectors identified that improvements needed be made to indoor and outdoor learning environments, which did not offer “a range of stimulating play experiences to support learning”.

But when inspectors returned for an unannounced visit in February this year the subsequent report was wholly positive.

The key messages were that children were observed to be “secure, confident and happy in the loving relationships they had formed with staff”, opportunities for children’s play had been enhanced through strong connections with the local community and that the homely setting sent a “clear message to children and families that they belonged and were valued”.

Leadership and the staff team were rated ‘very good’ and care, play and learning and the setting were both deemed ‘good’.

The report details positive responses from parents, one of whom said: “It is brilliant that the team’s hard work is paying off, and they should be proud of what they have achieved.”

Another added: “Staff are very friendly and my child loves going to them for a cuddle.”

Centre director Sara Farquharson was happy to celebrate the achievement with her colleagues, saying: “We are over the moon to receive a ‘very good’ and ‘good’ rating – this is a testament to our dedicated team who are committed to providing every child with the best start in life.

“Following our inspection last year, the team has worked tirelessly to turn things around through sharing best practices and increased training.

“We are especially pleased that the inspector noted our partnership with parents which has helped us foster a supportive and inclusive environment where every child can reach their full potential.

“We are looking forward to continuing to build on the solid foundation of quality we have in place, ensuring we can continue to provide high-quality care to children.”