An East Renfrewshire after school service has received a glowing inspection report.

Two inspectors from the Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced inspection of Clarkston's Off Grid After School at the end of February.

In making their evaluations of the service, they spoke with children using the service and five of their family members as well as speaking to staff and management, observing practice and daily life, and reviewing documents.

Publishing their findings this month, the watchdog rated the service as very good across all four categories - ‘how good is our care, play and learning?’, ‘how good is our setting?’, ‘how good is our leadership?’ and ‘how good is our staff team’.

Off Grid, based in the woods next to the scout hall at Aidan’s Brae, is registered to provide a care service for a maximum of 54 school-aged children within a private woodland.

The service has access to the scout hall where children can prepare for their woodland experience.

There is access to bathroom facilities both within the scout hall and on the woodland site.

A large cabin has also recently been installed within the woodlands to provide shelter for the children.

The key messages in the report were that the management and staff team had “created a welcoming, inclusive, nurturing, safe and caring environment for children."

The manager, meanwhile, was described as passionate about and committed to delivering positive outcomes for children.

Children were said to be at the heart of the service, which has a child-led approach in place.

The service was also praised for allowing youngsters to develop their curiosity, imagination and problem solving through high-quality play experiences.

Staff were said to be committed to their roles and the delivery of child-centred responsive care.

One parent told inspectors "staff are supportive and kind and feel like an extended family."

Finally, inspectors highlighted that personal planning should be more collaborative and provide children with a greater sense of ownership for their next steps for play and learning.

There had been no complaints upheld since the last inspection.