TODDLERS are getting an outstanding start to their education at a Daubhill nursery school, according to school inspectors.

Alexandra Under Threes Centre — a part of Alexandra Children's Centre in Blackledge Street — received the top mark in all areas, with children making "huge strides forward in their learning because of the quality of teaching and the learning programmes in place".

Children are said to be highly motivated to play and explore.

Activities were described as "excellently resourced".

They include using the garden as a way to develop children's physical skills and to enhance their learning.

Ofsted inspectors said: "The excellent opportunities provided for all children to explore and find things out help them become happy, highly motivated and independent learners."

The first class judgement follows an outstanding mark for Alexandra Nursery School last year.

Headteacher Barbara Kenny said: "The inspector who visited the centre gave the daycare manager Julie Cooney extremely positive feedback about the quality of the provision provided for children under three in the centre.

"She acknowledged the work done by Mrs Cooney since becoming the manager last July in developing the standards of teaching and the quality of the environment to enable the children to get the best possible start in life and improve the judgment from the last inspection.

"Parents are also thrilled with the outstanding judgment.

"One parent says that it is worth the 30 minute drive from the other side of town to get her child into our nursery where the standards are so high and the children make so much progress."