Teachers spoke of their delight at the glowing praise their nursery has received from government inspectors.
Catherington Nursery, Horndean, was judged a shining example in its latest Ofsted inspectors' report.
Inspector Coral Hales said there was simply no room for improvement in the quality of learning, which she found to be 'outstanding'.
The nurse
ry was given top marks for education, and praise heaped on the nursery's staff.
She wrote: 'All children arrive happy and eager to participate and are settled, chatty and self-assured.
'They have an excellent attitude to learning, ask questions, show interest and use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves.'
The Ofsted report said the inventive learning games conjured up by staff were at the heart of the nursery's success, with children exhibiting 'wonder and excitement' when shown how to build and race a model car powered by elastic bands, and developing motor skills with the nursery's fun 'hand gym'.
She wrote: 'Staff are successful at motivating children – for example, well-planned activities about going to school has interested all the children.
'Those leaving are excited, confident and keen to go to big school.'
Since it began in 1981 the nursery had been run by a parental committee – but as the committee struggled with work and family commitments, on September 3, 2006 the nursery's staff took over the reins.
Chief supervisor Helen Stevenson, 45, who has 18 years' experience at the nursery, said: 'We're extremely pleased with the outcome at the end of only our first year. We've worked really hard, and to have received outstanding for education is just brilliant.'
She said it was a tribute to the skills of the seven part-time staff at the hall, six of whom have NVQ Level Three qualifications in child care.
The Ofsted report was the first report the nursery has had since staff took over its management.
The nursery is based in Catherington Village Hall, Catherington Lane, just north of Waterlooville, and cares for 32 children aged between 33 months and five years, in classes of up to 26 at a time – but during the summer months, staff have 46 youngsters on their books.
It is open each weekday during term time from 9am to midday, and from 9am to 3pm on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
adam.kula@thenews.co.uk
The full article contains 394 words and appears in NS-City newspaper.
