According to two reports published recently by the council, both council-run nurseries and partner providers achieved similarly high standards in accommodation and resources. However, in other areas council-run services were of higher quality, particularly in management and quality assurance, where 90 per cent of council nurseries were good or very good compared with 59 per cent of partners.
Children's development and learning was an area of strength for all nurseries, with 91 per cent of partner nurseries and 95 per cent of council nurseries rated as good or very good. The quality of delivery of the 3-5 curriculum was good or very good in 80 per cent of partner nurseries and 97 per cent of council nurseries.
The report was based on an analysis of evidence from HMI inspection reports. The report on council nurseries was also based on the three-yearly reviews carried out by the council's staff. They cover the period from August 1997 to October 2000.
Brian Oldrey, Renfrewshire's convenor of education and leisure, said the council was on target for universal nursery provision for three-and four-year-olds by April 2002 and said the reports showed 'successful partnership achievements'. The council will offer support through its in-service training programme which will focus on play and on key aspects of the curriculum, in particular in the areas of expressive and aesthetic development and physical development and movement.
