STAFF at a nursery class in Fairlie have cause for celebration after they were highly praised for their strong bonds with children in a recent inspection.

Fairlie Primary School Nursery Class were subject to unannounced visits by the Care Inspectorate on October 10 and 11.

The facility on Morton Way in the village received a glowing report, with the class graded ‘very good’ in two out of four evaluation points.

The report states that the children observed felt "valued and included" and staff interactions were "kind, positive and responsive".

The inspectors added: "They confidently approached staff for cuddles and to share their thoughts and achievements.

"The importance of family relationships and children's well-being in the service was clear. Staff spoke with children meaningfully about their home life, and supported children to make choices through a respectful rights-based approach.

"Children enjoyed chatting about their home life, prompted by a family wall in the lunchroom which displayed pictures of children with their families.

"This supported children to feel safe, valued and develop secure attachments with staff."

The care watchdog notes that children in the nursery, which is run by North Ayrshire Council, were actively involved in planning their play activities, with different spaces reflecting the current interests of the youngsters.

The report goes on to add: "During our visit, we observed children measuring and mixing, mark making with various materials, matching and sorting.

"Children also enjoyed choosing books and approaching staff for a story. Some of the books and play experiences available were linked to a Halloween theme.

"Children's voices were consistently evident throughout floor books, wall displays and in the children's own 'special books'.

"As a result, children were valued and had ownership of their learning. Children's learning and achievements were shared via 'Twitter', face-to-face conversations, and open access to children's 'special books.'"

And staff were praised for their communication and supported each other to provide the best care to the children.

The report continued: "Staff could identify each other's strengths and confidently discuss how these were utilised in the staff team to support each other.

"The staff team were actively encouraged and supported to gain additional qualifications and develop their skills and knowledge."

North Ayrshire Council have been approached for comment.