A day nursery has been awarded the highest level of distinction after its first ever Ofsted inspection.

The education watchdog visited Top Chapel Day Nursery in Tyldesley in January, and has found the facility to be ‘outstanding’.

In the report, Inspector Sharon Walton described how children are “warmly welcomed into this exceptional nursery”.

She added: “They greet staff with smiles and hugs.

“Stimulating learning environments are skilfully 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.”

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The children were said to make “rapid progress” at the nursery which is situated on Top Chapel Elliot Street.

Emotional wellbeing has been priorities by staff since the pandemic, Inspector Walton says, which has resulted in them showing “immense confidence as they play”.

The report also notes that the children’s communication and language skills are “promoted exceptionally well”.

“Staff offer a running commentary describing what the children are doing as they play,” Inspector Walton added.

“Children with little language, or those who speak English as an additional language are beginning to use some key words in their play. For example, they say, 'car gone', as they take turns pushing pretend cars down a piece of guttering.

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“Children benefit from lots of opportunities to learn new vocabulary and develop spoken language.”

Area manager and director at Top Chapel, Chloe Brookes says they elated with the report, particularly as it is the nursery’s first ever inspection.

“Not many nurseries get ‘outstanding’ so it’s a nice cherry on the top,” she added.

“It was a really pleasant experience. She was really, really lovely.

“It was all based on teaching standards, so she was in the room most of the day which meant she was able to see all aspects of the day.”

Chloe has plenty of experience of Ofsted inspections so says she was not particularly stressed, but Inspector Walton made those of her staff who were slightly anxious feel at ease from the moment she walked in.

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She added: “The staff are an amazing team. We’re always there to support each other.

“I’d like to thank everyone for the amazing work they did.

“We just continued to do what we’re doing.

“We’ve had lots of positive feedback from parents, and we thanked them all.

“Everyone is involved in an inspection – the team, the children, and the parents.”