An Aberdeenshire nursery has been saved from closure after inspectors ruled it had brought service up to an acceptable standard.
Staff at Balmedie’s Links Nursery said they were “relieved” that the Care Inspectorate had decided to withdraw a formal improvement notice handed down in July.
The centre had been facing the cancellation of its registration to operate after the watchdog branded it “unacceptable” in a damning report.
Children in the nursery were found to be at “significant” risk during a three-day inspection in June and management were told to ensure staff had the necessary qualifications, skills, and experience by this month.
Yesterday Lyndsey Fleming, who started as manager just days after the improvement notice was served, said “the whole ethos” of the centre had been transformed.
She said: “The formal order was abolished on Tuesday. We had our final visit then from the Care Inspectorate.
“They told us that the improvements notice had been lifted and they are not due to come back until the middle of next year.
“The parents have passed comments on the improvements too, so we are really happy. Staff morale is totally different, the staff have made this happen.
“The whole ethos of the nursery has changed, it is just a different atmosphere.”
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “We recently visited the nursery to monitor progress since the last inspection and see whether the changes we asked for have been made.
“We have found some evidence of improvement and so have lifted the improvement notice we served on July 1, 2015.”
He added that the watchdog would “continue to monitor this nursery closely”.