STAFF at a Musselburgh nursery have been praised for their support of youngsters in their care and their families following an inspection.

The Care Inspectorate report into Links Nursery, Balcarres Road, said children who attended were “happy and feel very secure with staff” and it praised nursery staff and management for their ability to improve through self evaluation.

And while there was criticism of the curriculum progress which was described as “weak” in the evaluation, the report pointed out that five out of six recommendations made in the previous inspection had been met.

The report said: “They provide a curriculum which is reasonably broad and balanced, taking account of most aspects of children’s learning. It is firmly based on responding to children’s interests.

“Staff use the experiences of parents, members of the local community, and other partners, effectively to enrich the curriculum. However, the pace of curricular development within the nursery has been too slow. Staff are not yet clear how to use all of the experiences they provide to progress children’s learning, offer the right amount of challenge and plan opportunities for children to achieve.

The inspectors praised the relationship between staff and youngsters, describing the quality of environment and management and leadership as “good”.

It said: “Babies are developing secure relationships with staff who help them to settle when they arrive at nursery. Toddlers are gaining confidence and play happily alongside other children. They are encouraged to be curious and explore a range of activities.” And there was praise for the way the nursery interacted with parents, listening to their suggestions and acting on them where possible.

The report recommended the nursery manager ensure staff are supported to improve their knowledge and understanding of the planning process, including responsive planning, and that there are increased opportunities for parents and children to comment on and contribute to the learning stories and next steps in learning.