A NURSERY in Blackburn has been praised in a glowing report by inspectors.

Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education - did not have a single negative comment about Hancock Street nursery, which provides early years support for children in need aged between two and four.

The nursery is run by Blackburn with Darwen Council in partnership with John Smethurst Nursery and was described as having a "caring, welcoming and safe environment for children and their families.

The Ofsted report said: "The nursery provides many worthwhile activities which stimulate and motivate the children.

"It also said that by the time the children are five they are likely to reach desired levels in the six areas of learning.

And staff from the 50-pupil nursery have been praised for their efforts by the council's chairman of social services Coun Sue Reid.

She said: "This report is truly outstanding in its praise. The Ofsted inspection found that programmes for the children's personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding, and creative development were all very good.

"Staff are also praised for their work to plan the overall educational programme, their teaching, teamwork and their relationships with children themselves.

"The parents and carers themselves have been praised for their involvement with the nursery too.

"The only recommendation the inspector found to make was that the nursery should seek additional resources and activities to support children's climbing and balancing skills.

"We are delighted with this exceptional report and must congratulate the officer in charge, Mrs Joanne Stewart, and her staff for their work."

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