CHILDREN and staff at a Runcorn nursery are celebrating after achieving an outstanding grade in every area by Ofsted inspectors.

Play Away Day Nursery in Grasmere Drive received top marks for its quality of teaching and learning, effectiveness of the leadership and management, outcomes for children and their personal development, behaviour and welfare.

It comes just three months after their sister nursery in Langdale Road gained the same high results.

After spending a day scrutinising the Beechwood nursery, Ofsted Inspector Alison Regan said: "Leadership is exceptional.

“Highly knowledgeable and experienced staff demonstrate the very highest quality of teaching with children of all ages.

“Activities are fun and exceptionally well planned.”

She praised the 30 members of staff for building on children’s prior knowledge to enhance their learning.

Ms Regan added: “Children’s self esteem and confidence are embedded through lots of praise and gentle encouragement.

“Staff are superb role models.

“Children are extremely independent and are provided with excellent opportunities to further develop their skills in preparation for their next stage of learning.”

A highly effective system checks children’s progress, she said, and highlights any gaps so that staff can immediately implement strategies to meet individual needs.

All 102 pupils, she noted, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, are making excellent progress.

Nursery manager Grainne McGovern-Scott said: “We are all overjoyed with this result.

“We opened our new preschool in September so we've had lots of challenges merging the two settings.

“We're particularly proud that the inspector acknowledged the hard work and commitment of the staff to have both set up and running in time for the new term.

“It is amazing to know that the only two nurseries in Runcorn to have ever achieved outstanding are both Play Away.”