Celebrating Excellence: Craighalbert Receives Outstanding Care Inspectorate Report

We are delighted to announce the results of our latest Care Inspectorate inspection, which has recognised Craighalbert with one “Excellent” and three “Very Good” grades.

The unannounced inspection in June 2025 praised the dedication, expertise, and ambition of our entire team, highlighting our commitment to ensuring that every child achieves their full potential.

Craighalbert nursery pupil joyfully explores the classroom using a Bugzi mobility vehicle, under the guidance of a one of our Occupational Therapists.

The Care Inspectorate commended:

• Excellent staff team (Grade 6) – recognising the passion, skill and commitment of staff, whose sector-leading practice ensures outstanding outcomes for children.

• Very Good care, play and learning (Grade 5) – inspectors praised the highly nurturing environment, individualised learning plans, and innovative use of communication aids that give every child a voice.

• Very Good setting (Grade 5) – our purpose-built facilities, including hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, and accessible outdoor spaces, were found to significantly enhance children’s experiences.

• Very Good leadership (Grade 5) – inspectors highlighted strong leadership, reflective practice, and the Centre’s commitment to continuous improvement and partnership with families.

Parent Experiences

The voices of families are at the heart of Craighalbert. Parents spoke about the life-changing impact of the nursery on their children:

"Our daughter has come on leaps and bounds due to the excellent level of education, therapy and care provided by the staff at Craighalbert nursery. As a parent of a child with complex needs, there is a stigma that your child is ‘unable to learn’ or they will only get so far. This is not something we or the Craighalbert Centre agree with.

At Craighalbert, they let children be who they are, learn at their own pace and encourage them to continue trying. They find ways to allow our children to learn, be involved in activities and most importantly, show them that they can do anything they set their minds to.

My daughter has gained skills, confidence, resilience and she has been incredibly safe, happy and secure in her nursery environment. We will be forever grateful for Craighalbert sharing our values and knowing that our girl is capable of more than what people believe." — Lynsey McLuckie, Parent

Another parent, Lindsay Millar, shared how her daughter Isabella has thrived since joining in 2024:

“Isabella joined Craighalbert in January 2024 and would not have made the progress she has if she had attended another nursery. Isabella receives the support she needs from various different members of the team and has built strong relationships with them, giving her the confidence to progress.

She has made tremendous progress in her pacer and is now taking steps and moving freely to access toys she wants. She is beginning to feed herself with the help of the OTs, she is learning cause and effect with the use of switches and is using this in her Bugzi to move around. She has also made tremendous progress in the pool and achieved her first achievement award. She is making progress using her PODD and her alternative pencil to communicate what she wants.

Staff at Craighalbert are always trying new things and introducing new equipment to help Isabella be the best she can be. None of this would have been available to her if she did not attend Craighalbert.”— Lindsay Millar, Parent

A Learning, Care and Therapy Practitioner shares a story with a pupil during an engaging story time session at Craighalbert Nursery.

Leadership Reflections

Interim Chief Executive, Alison Philipps said:

“We are immensely proud of these inspection results, which reflect the passion and professionalism of our staff. Every day, our team goes above and beyond to ensure that children with complex needs are not only cared for, but encouraged to learn, develop, and achieve. This recognition is a tribute to their dedication and to the trust and partnership we share with families.”

Head of Learning Shona McMonagle added:

“At Craighalbert, we believe every child can achieve more than others may expect. Our approach ensures that children are given opportunities to explore, communicate, and grow in ways that work for them. We are delighted that the Care Inspectorate has recognised the strength of our staff and the meaningful outcomes being achieved by children every day.”

Looking Ahead

The Care Inspectorate noted that Craighalbert provides “sector-leading practice with outstanding outcomes for children.” For us, the journey does not stop here. We will continue to innovate, learn, and develop our services so that every child has the chance to thrive and every family feels supported.

Together, with our dedicated staff, families, and community, we are proud to live our mission: Enabling Children to Achieve.

You can read the full report here: Care Inspectorate Report