Little stars are simply 'excellent' - Riccarton's inspection report is a national best!

Scoring ‘Excellent’ across all four quality indicators, the ECC also becomes the first Early Childhood Centre since 2014 to achieve perfect marks across the board.          

The indicators and scores were:

• Leadership of change: Excellent
• Learning, assessment and teaching: Excellent
• Securing children’s progress: Excellent
• Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion: Excellent

Expanding on the indicators, Education Scotland praised the ‘inspirational and outstanding leadership’ of head teacher, Teresa Porter, who ‘drives forward continual improvement.’

They added: ‘Her high expectations and ambition for all, makes a significant difference to the lives of children and families.’

The report also highlights the dedication and enthusiasm of all practitioners who: ‘create a warm, nurturing ethos. Working together as a strong, professional team, they provide rich and very high quality learning experiences across the curriculum.’

The accolades did not stop there – the report also noted that:

• No child misses out on valuable learning opportunities. Their wellbeing and inclusion is central to the work of the setting. Relationships are based on mutual trust, respect, and strong partnership with parents ensures
• Children were happy, well-behaved and making excellent progress across all areas of their learning. They successfully lead their own learning and workshops with parents and act as learning ambassadors for their peers.
• The ECC’s use of data, including high-quality assessments to plan well-judged interventions which supports all children to make excellent progress in their learning and development.
• The ECC’s commitment to continual improvement, underpinned by firmly embedded self-evaluation activities. As a result, this is leading to continued and consistent improvement in outcomes for children and families.

Welcoming the national first, Fiona Campbell, East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning said: “I’m absolutely thrilled by the Education Scotland report and the positive, encouraging comments being made.

“To be the first ECC receiving such an outstanding report under the new inspection framework makes me incredibly proud of all our children, parents and staff who make a phenomenal team.

“Their passion, hard work and complete commitment to Riccarton ECC has been unstinting and today’s news is a fantastic reflection on them – they richly deserve every recognition and the rewards that come from it.”

Teresa Porter, Riccarton ECC Head teacher added: “I’m overjoyed by Education Scotland’s findings as we have made real strides forward in helping every child be the best they can be, with superb support from parents, carers and the Council’s Education Service.

“I’m bursting with pride for our team and absolutely ecstatic that our Centre has received the best report ever issued in Scotland. I really do keep pinching myself!

“But we won’t rest on our laurels – we’re already looking ahead and planning how we can do things bigger and better than now!”

Centre staff, parents and children celebrated the good news with a celebration cake and a small party.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths, East Ayrshire Council’s Head of Education concluded: “I’d like to congratulate every child, parent and staff member who has contributed to this stunning first in Scotland.

“Every member of my team is focused on an absolute commitment to making sure every child and young person in East Ayrshire has access to the education, skills and experiences they need to help them achieve success in school, life and in work.

“I look forward to building on this amazing report and making sure all our schools and ECCs reach for, achieve and sustain the same high standards.

“In the meantime, I’m delighted to be joining our little stars at Riccarton for a well-deserved celebration party!”