STAFF, pupils and parents at a preschool in West Devon are celebrating this week after being rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas during a recent Ofsted inspection — news which has been welcomed in this its 50th anniversary year.

The inspection report for Whitchurch Pre-school, which has charity status, was published on Tuesday (February 13) and showed the preschool as Outstanding in all four categories of effectiveness of the leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for children.

The new rating is a great achievement for the preschool, which received ‘Good’ in its previous inspection in 2014.

Inspector Joanne Steward attended Whitchurch on January 25 and said that the quality of teaching was ‘inspirational’ and highlighted that the children’s behaviour was ‘exemplary’. She also praised manager Judith Cotter on how she provides specific programmes that meet each child’s needs.

She added that the children make ‘substantial progress’ in their development.

‘The manager has an excellent under-standing of the learning and development requirements. Coupled with her high qualifications and extensive experience, she nurtures children’s development very well, to help them reach their full potential.’

The inspector also commended the staff’s ‘effective promotion’ of health, being physically active and taking the children on stimulating excursions.

‘Staff make highly reflective observations and assessments and use these meticulously to provide children with highly challenging and enriching activities.

‘Children gain excellent confidence, imagination and perseverance skills to a very high level.’

Mrs Cotter said that everyone was delighted with the news, which would help make the preschool’s 50th anniversary year extra special.

‘I am really proud of our Outstanding grading as it is a recognition of the dedication and hard work of the team and how well the staff and parents work together to provide a stimulating, fun and challenging experience to support the children’s learning and growing independence. 

‘I am delighted that the report reflects how happy our children are and how well they work and play together and that it highlights our strong emphasis on supporting children‘s individual needs and abilities, which enables them to make rapid progress in their development, flourish and be exceptionally well-prepared for their move to school.’

Within the report, the inspector added that a ‘strong emphasis on supporting children’s individual needs and abilities helps children make rapid progress in their development’.

‘All children flourish in this enriching pre-school — they are exceptionally well prepared for their move to school.’