James Hamilton ECC Rated ‘Sector Leading’ in Care Report

James Hamilton Early Childhood Centre (ECC) is celebrating an outstanding inspection report from the Care Inspectorate, which described the centre as “sector leading”.

The Kilmarnock-based ECC was visited unannounced by inspectors in August and received three ‘very good’ ratings and one ‘excellent’ rating for leadership – the highest mark possible.

Inspectors praised the centre for its “outstandingly high care and support from nurturing and compassionate staff” and noted that “children were happy and engaged in leading their own play, enhancing their understanding of the world around them.” The report also highlighted “exceptionally strong leadership” that ensured “children received the highest quality of care.”

Practitioners were described as professional, enthusiastic and providing “exceptional care and support,” with inspectors noting that staff knew each child “very well.” The report also commended the ECC’s leadership, stating it was “exceptionally led by a strong, approachable manager who delegated tasks carefully to build leadership capacity,” resulting in “outstanding direction” and a “positive impact on the children’s experiences.”

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People, visited the centre to personally congratulate Head of Centre Julie Clelland and her team. She was joined by local members Councillors Graham Barton, Graham Boyd, Barry Douglas and Neal Ingram, along with Early Years Service Manager Carol McGregor.

Councillor Cowan said: “I was delighted to visit James Hamilton ECC to congratulate Head of Centre Julie Clelland and the whole ECC on such an excellent report following the unannounced inspection in August.

“It comes as no surprise that the ECC has received such a glowing report, the children are so obviously confident and happy. And that is down in no small part to the leadership demonstrated by Julie Clelland. The inspectors marked the leadership as ‘excellent’ and described it as sector leading.

“They wrote: ‘The aspirational goals of the team to deliver high-quality early learning and childcare meant that staff were attuned to the needs of families and children. As a result of the empowering ethos fostered by the manager, the team supported each other through a genuinely shared leadership approach. This demonstrated a collaborative approach to improvement, and consequently, the team provided outstandingly high-quality care and support’.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the whole team and the dedication they display to the children in their care.”

Head of Centre Julie Clelland said: “The inspectors spent two days at the Early Childhood Centre in August where they observed practice and daily life, spoke with the children, reviewed documents, worked closely with the whole team within the ECC, and gathered views from parents and carers.

“Their report highlights the commitment and dedication of our practitioners, who are passionate and extremely focused on delivering outstanding care.

“A point of real pride for the whole team was recognition of the fact that ‘Staff built strong relationships with families, which helped children feel happy and supported’ and that ‘Sector leading practice in James Hamilton promoted warm, caring, nurturing staff who understood children’s needs well’.

“Early Years education is incredibly important for our children and their families, and we are committed to ensuring the absolute best start for all of the children in our care.”