Windyknowe Primary School Nursery in Bathgate has achieved top marks from the Care Inspectorate following an unannounced inspection in March 2026. The nursery received a rating of 6 – Excellent for Leadership and 5 – Very Good for both 'Children play and learn' and 'Children are supported to achieve', two of the highest marks available.
Inspection Details
During the visit, the inspector spoke with children, families, carers, and staff to inform the final judgement. The report highlighted that the service was exceptionally well led, with a dedicated team creating a positive and nurturing ethos. Leaders used highly effective quality assurance and involved all staff in improvement work, resulting in confident leadership at all levels.
Strengths in Practice
Children enjoyed a wide range of high-quality play experiences indoors and outdoors. They were confident, engaged, and empowered to lead their own learning. Staff used warm, responsive interactions to extend thinking and allowed children time to explore independently. Children experienced caring relationships that helped them feel safe and included, with wellbeing tools and rights-based approaches supporting emotional understanding.
Personal plans were clear and up to date, with strong family involvement. Staff knew children well and provided consistent support to meet individual needs.
Head Teacher's Response
Head Teacher John Cloherty said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the inspection from the Care Inspectorate. This is a true reflection on the excellent commitment of the nursery staff who go that extra mile for our children on a daily basis and who are a privilege to work alongside. It is hard to believe that the team have been working together for less than two years and achieve this in such a short period of time. We will use this feedback to build further on that ethos so that we can be the very best for our young people and their families.”
