Ofsted rate nursery 'outstanding' after major refurbishment

STAFF at a nursery are celebrating being rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted just six months after it changed hands.

Children 1st at Meir Park Day Nursery was sold by its owners of 15 years in October.

The pre-school, in Lysander Road, underwent a complete refurbishment and was visited by Ofsted inspectors in May.

Their efforts have now been rewarded with the highest possible rating.

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Manager Mandy Bennett, who has been at the nursery for 22 years, said: "The whole of the nursery has had a major refurbishment, from the carpets to the toys and everything in between.

"The children enjoyed having the builders in, it was a really positive experience for them.

"We feel like the work was the last piece of the jigsaw to complete the nursery.

"Our last inspection was good with outstanding features and this work has helped us to go the whole way. We're so happy."

The nursery was established in 1991.

It is now one of 15 nurseries in the Derbyshire-based Children 1st group and was one of the last two to be acquired.

The nursery has 120 children aged up to 11-years-old on its roll and places for 87 youngsters on any one day.

They are split into five different rooms depending on their age and also have undercover outdoor areas to enjoy regardless of the weather.

Youngsters are under the care of 28 members of staff, who try to make the nursery feel like a home from home.

Mandy said: "Our work is about putting children and families first and giving them the very best quality when it comes to the environment around them.

"We have very strong relationships with the families and feel like part of their extended family.

"People travel from all over to bring their children here and we try to go one step further to support them in every way possible, through things such as illnesses, redundancies and separations."

She added: "We are seeing the result of the inspection as a pat on the back for the staff for all their hard work and passion that they put into everything they do each day.

"It is wonderful for the parents to know that Ofsted have seen what they do."

Youngster Emily Birks, aged four, from Meir Park, said: "I like my nursery.

"There is lots of things for us to do and the staff are really nice.

"I like playing in the sand and playing with dolls."

The nursery's summer fair raised £2,500 for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice.