A NORTON nursery is celebrating being back on top form following last year's damning report by Ofsted.

Daisy Chain Day Nursery has been rated outstanding following an inspection carried out on July 23.

The nursery, in Kempton Way, also received the top rating in 2011 but was downgraded to inadequate in May last year after an inspector raised serious concerns about children’s safety.

Criticisms included inadequate supervision and poor staffing arrangements, which nursery manager Ketrina Hill always strongly contested.

She maintained the previous findings were the "result of a malicious and well-timed complaint" but said she was "pleased" with the outcome of the recent inspection.

Mrs Hill added: "I'd like to thank the parents and staff for their support over the last 15 months."

During May's visit, Ofsted inspector Adelaide Griffith noted "rigorous supervision" of children during all activities and that ratios were maintained "above the requirements" to ensure children received effective support.

The inspector said a key strength of the privately owned day nursery, which employs 32 staff and has 156 children on its roll, was its "extremely inviting environment" and "vast wealth of resources".

The report also stated: "Children demonstrate by their extremely good behaviour that they feel safe and they are highly disciplined in their play with others.

"Owing to the highly supportive environment, children make strides in their development. Staff have an exceptional understanding of how to support children's learning through inspirational teaching and follow children's interests and plan a rich and imaginative range of activities around these.

"Therefore, children's development is very effectively supported and they make consistently good progress from their starting points."

Mum-of-three Deanna Evans has two children that currently attend the nursery - Christopher, aged three, and 18-month-old Matthew.

She also sent her eldest to Daisy Chain and is expecting her fourth child, who will also attend when she returns to work.

Mrs Evans said: “It has always been an outstanding nursery in our eyes. I have never had any concerns and it is far superior to any other establishment in the area.”

The inspector's only suggestion for further improvement at the nursery was to "sharpen the focus" on helping two-year-olds to understand more about healthy eating.

To read the Ofsted report in full go to http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/CARE/253797.