AN ANDOVER nursery where “children flourish in the care of staff” is celebrating being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

YMCA East Anton, in Dairy Road, has received praise in all areas from the education watchdog who visited the nursery on Tuesday, August 15.

On Friday, September 15, a report into the inspection was published which rated the establishment as ‘outstanding’. It was graded as ‘good’ in 2018.

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Early Years director Vikki Kennesion said: "We are thrilled to have received an outstanding Ofsted inspection rating. This achievement truly reflects the dedication, passion, and hard work of our team. We are committed to continuing our mission of supporting and empowering young people to flourish and achieve their potential."

The report said: “Staff know children incredibly well and prioritise children's need for emotional security above all else. Children access a range of resources to identify and communicate their feelings, such as colours and emotion cards. Staff pay close attention to children's non-verbal cues, providing language to validate their emotions. As a result, children are exceptionally happy, confident and secure.”

Inspectors observed that children develop “exceptional early literacy skills” through their passion for books, with staff selecting stories which capture their emerging interests and “seamlessly incorporate what children need to learn next”.

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Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language also receive exceptional support to reach their fullest potential.

“Staff care deeply about the children in their care. They talk about children with sincere affection and passion, particularly when discussing children's unique qualities,” the report continued.

“As a result, children value what makes them different and demonstrate high levels of compassion towards each other. For example, children who are further along in their speech development learn to use communication aids when chatting to their friends who are at an earlier stage in their communication.”

The “reflective and dedicated” leaders who support staff through “highly effective supervision arrangements” were commended.

Ofsted said that safeguarding arrangements are effective with all staff demonstrating a secure understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures.

A nursery spokesperson added: “The outstanding Ofsted rating validates YMCA Andover's commitment to excellence and serves as a testament to the impact they are making in the lives of young individuals. The team remains steadfast in their commitment to continue delivering exceptional services and programs to benefit the local community.”