Care Inspectorate raise 'significant concerns' about Fife Council-run nursery

The Care Inspectorate has raised “significant concerns” regarding a council-run nursery in Fife.

Staff at Cardenden Primary School Nursery in Lochgelly have been told not to use “inappropriate physical intervention” when supporting children in their care.

The nursery was also urged to deploy employees in a way that “provides effective supervision of
children and meets their rights, needs and choices.”

The Care Inspectorate states that “significant improvements” must be made within the next month and that they are “monitoring” the service.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by children at Cardenden Primary School Nursery in Lochgelly.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for children, their families and staff at the service.

“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of children.

“Because of our concerns we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service. This sets out the significant improvements that must be made within a specified timeframe.

“We are in contact with and monitoring the service to follow up on the required improvements.”

Fife Council’s head of education, Shelagh McLean, says the “improvements will be subject to regular review”.

She added: “The quality of care experienced by the children in our nurseries across Fife is our paramount concern.

“Following the findings of the Care Inspectorate, a detailed action plan has been prepared with the setting to ensure that the improvements that are expected within this nursery are secured quickly and within the required timescales.”