A NURSERY is celebrating after receiving a ringing endorsement in an inspection report.

Little Hoots Nursery, in Alexander Road, St John's, Worcester, was particularly congratulated on the amount of time children play outside and provision for special needs.

Staff at the nursery, which was formerly run under the Bundles of Fun name and opened in 2001, were particularly pleased because the inspectors dropped in during a week when new employees had just started.

The inspection said: "Children benefit from at least two sessions of outdoor play each day when the weather permits.

"They also enjoy occasional walks down to the river. At other times they play on the concrete area where they can run around and splash in the puddles, use wheeled toys or play with balls or other small equipment."

The nursery, which currently has 23 children on the roll, was deemed good - the second highest rating out of four - in every section: helping children to be healthy, protecting them from harm, helping them achieve, helping them make a positive contribution and organisation.

The report added: "Children with special educational needs make good progress. Their needs are met well because staff get to know the child and their parents."

Jodie Evans, the manager of the nursery, which employs seven, said: "We were really pleased, especially as we had two new girls starting on the Monday. The success is down to the brilliant staff."

The report, which is carried out by the Office for Standards in Education made three recommendations for improvements.

The uncollected child policy must be updated to ensure that staff are not left in sole charge of a child, activities for younger children must be developed and opportunities for children to develop their independence must be improved.