University childcare facility gets top marks in Ofsted inspection
The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Pre-School Centre is celebrating after being awarded the top-level mark in its Ofsted report.
The Centre, which looks after the children of staff and students of the University, was awarded the coveted ‘Outstanding’ mark in its latest Ofsted inspection.
The team was praised for its “uncompromising vision for providing children with the very best start in life” and for providing a “rich and purposeful learning environment in which children are thriving.” Other areas highlighted include having a highly qualified and dedicated team, offering excellent ideas for fun activities to support what each child needs to learn and seeking the views of parents and children to constantly improve.
The report said: “All children develop a love of learning… They thoroughly enjoy a range of superb resources to help them to develop early writing skills, ready for school. Children are confident, capable and eager learners, who relish their time at the pre-school.”
"We are absolutely delighted and have been bursting with pride to share the good news. Now we can officially say we are an ‘Outstanding’ Pre-School we are all absolutely over the moon."
Joint officer in charge Saskia Gregory said: “We are absolutely delighted and have been bursting with pride to share the good news. Now we can officially say we are an ‘Outstanding’ Pre-School we are all absolutely over the moon.
“The news makes this year’s graduation ceremony for our oldest children even more special. It is an amazing achievement for our team and a reflection of the hard work the staff put in every day to make the Pre-School Centre a welcoming, nurturing and safe place for all of the children. I would also like to thank the children’s parents as we couldn’t do what we do without their support.”
The £2 million purpose-built centre, which opened in 2012 and can accommodate up to 90 children aged from six-months to four-years, was created to improve facilities and increase the number of children able to attend. It has already achieved the prestigious Step into Quality Award – the equivalent to the British Kite mark for nurseries, and provides a safe, caring, stimulating and inclusive environment to enable children to develop and reach their full potential.
The children who will soon leave the Centre for primary school joined in the celebrations with a special awards ceremony. Alex Boardman-Hughes, four, said: “I love Pre-School because we have lots of fun on the slide and go on bug hunts.” Rafi Dempsey, four, added: “I love Pre-School because I have made special friends.”