STAFF and youngsters at a Dorset nursery are celebrating after being ranked ‘good’ by inspectors.

Tops Charminster, on Claremont Avenue, have received the rating after a recent visit by Ofsted inspectors.

The report said: “Children thrive in this happy and calm nursery. They form strong relationships with staff and their peers and play collaboratively.

“Staff inspire, challenge and support effectively to deliver an ambitious curriculum and ensure that all children make good progress in their learning and development.”

Pre-school children ‘serve their own food, use metal cutlery, and pour milk from glass milk bottles’, it noted, and ‘staff talk to children about the healthy food that is served and why it is good for them’.

The inspector added: “Staff develop children’s language by extending sentences and using adjectives. Children learn the initial sounds of simple words through rhythm, rhymes, and songs.

“They explore how sounds can be loud, quiet, long, or short and they clap and stamp to demonstrate this. They match these sounds to written letters and this helps them develop their literacy skills.”

They went on: “Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from appropriate, unhurried activities that give them the chance to interact with staff and other children.

“Staff identify key areas for development and use effective strategies to meet the needs of children with SEND, for example using picture cards to help children communicate clearly.”

Jodie Robinson, nursery manager at Tops Charminster, said: “I am very proud of all the staff and the hard work they put in everyday, the team put 100% into everything they do to ensure the children are well cared for and have the best time at nursery while playing and learning.

“I am so pleased with the outcome as it gives a true reflection of our nursery.”

Tops Charminster is part of day nursery chain, Tops Day Nurseries, who have more than 30 venues across the south and south west.

Read the full report HERE.