Parents, staff and children at Naturally Learning Nursery in Truro are celebrating after being recognised as outstanding by education watchdog, OFSTED.

The inspection, carried out in April, highlighted the excellent early years teaching and the highly supportive and engaging environment in the nursery. Inspectors found that “children benefit highly from the inspirational activities that staff plan and adapt to promote differing levels of development.”

Naturally Learning opened in 2014, offering day-care for young babies to school-age children in the grounds of Truro High School. Since opening its doors, it has seen numbers swell to near capacity, as demand from parents for a home-from-home holistic approach to childcare grows.

“Children are fully engaged in activities as staff support children effectively to follow their own learning, explore and investigate,” the report added.

Nursery manager, Sarah Hood, said: “Child-led learning is key to what we do here. If a child is comfortable and confident in their environment they are more open to learning, and this builds self-esteem, and makes for happy children and happy parents.”

The report also recognised the nursery’s role in preparing children for school: “Teaching is consistently excellent and, as a result, children make extremely good progress from their starting points in readiness for school,” it reads.

“The management team is highly supportive and ambitious to offer a high-quality service for children and their families. They use their qualifications and experience to great effect to support staff and identify training needs, for example to help staff support children with special educational needs.“

Inspectors examine a number of key areas including leadership and management, teaching and learning, personal development and welfare, and outcomes for children – all four at Naturally Learning Truro were awarded the highest possible outstanding grade one level.

“We are thrilled to have received this rating from OFSTED,” added Miss Hood. “It’s testament to the hard work of the staff here and the delightful children and their parents who make the nursery the welcoming and vibrant community it is.”

View the full OFSTED report and find out more about the nursery at NaturallyLearning.co.uk or go along to the next open day on Saturday, July 16.