The data shows that 224 nurseries and 111 childminders in Scotland were graded as weak or unsatisfactory in at least one category during their recent Care Commission inspection, with 20 of those graded 1 or 2 in all four quality themes.
Individual reports said that settings are dirty, in a state of unrepair and hazardous to children. Inspectors also found that settings are not meeting staff:child ratios and staff are unqualified and lacking in basic first aid training.
Despite this, a nursery has never been closed down directly because of Care Commission enforcement action since the regulator was established in 2002.
A spokesperson for the Care Commission said, 'More than 95 per cent of the 9,000-plus childcare services inspected last year were classified as satisfactory or better. This shows that a very small minority of these services are failing to provide acceptable standards of care.
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