A NURSERY has received an 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating in its first ever inspection.
Following a huge transformation of the historic Top Chapel in Tyldesley, a mum-and-daughter team opened Top Chapel Day Nursery in 2020.
Working in childcare since she was 16 and running a well-respected nursery in Stretford for 15 years, Sharon Scully launched the new business with daughter Chloe once she received the relevant experience and qualifications.
With the pair's "passion and skillset", they believed they could turn the old chapel into a "beautiful, natural learning environment for children to learn and thrive in".
Their gamble has proven to have paid off as Top Chapel received an "Outstanding" rating in its first Ofsted inspection in January, with Sharon and Chloe "so proud" of the team's achievement.
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In the inspection, Ofsted inspectors rated the nursery as 'Outstanding' in all categories of their provision, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
The report states: "Children are warmly welcomed into this exceptional nursery. They greet staff with smiles and hugs. Stimulating learning environments are skillfully set up to extend children's individual learning objectives and specific interests.
"As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are motivated to learn."
As the private nursery opened during the pandemic, which resulted in lots of stop-start learning, staff are said to "have prioritised children's emotional development".
This has included yoga activities so children can feel calm and regulate their feelings, while staff "skilfully use stories and props to talk about their emotions".
Children's communication and language skills are reported to be promoted "exceptionally well", while literacy, mathematics, and values are developed well into the curriculum.
Nursery staff also promote healthy lifestyles to the children, plan workshops to support parents' understanding of topics, and they support each child sensitively.
Safeguarding is also reported to be effective, with rigorous recruitment systems and an awareness of how to keep children safe.
Following the Ofsted inspection, Chloe, from Trafford, said: "Our Top Chapel team are extremely hard working, highly experienced and dedicated team.
"We are all absolutely elated with our outstanding grade for our first inspection!
"Our team are over the moon and this means so much to all of us as we are recognised for all of our hard work."
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