STAFF at a Billericay nursery have drastically stepped up their game and ensured all children are making “excellent progress from their starting points”.

Goldcrest Day Nursery, in Mons Avenue, has been handed an outstanding rating from the education watchdog Ofsted just 12 months after being labelled requires improvement.

According to the report published last week, children are engaging in more “challenging activities that encourage them to think, be curious and solve problems”, an opposite to what inspectors stated in last year’s inspection.

It added: “Since the last inspection, the leadership team have worked exceptionally hard to meet the actions raised.

“They have recruited additional trained and experienced staff that complement the existing team.

“All staff are extremely motivated and meticulous about meeting every child's learning and care needs."

At the time of Ofsted’s visit in August , the age range of the kids at the full day care were between one and eight years old.

Inspectors found younsgters at the nursery “thoroughly enjoy their time” .

Previously, staff did not always “consider the individual needs and developmental stages of the children”.

But inspectors said staff are now making sure they are assessing each child from the moment they arrive, with time taken during the settling in process to listen to parents about what their children can already do and any specific care that needs to be met.

Inspectors stated: “Leaders and staff work with a wide range of other professionals to assist parents wherever necessary.

“This helps to provide parents with the support they need to actively help their children.

“Parents are assisted to understand and complete necessary paperwork, when seeking further funding if their children have special educational needs.

“Any funding secured is used exceptionally well to ensure their children's learning and development needs are clearly understood and met.

“Staff identify specific training to increase their understanding about a condition or health need, so that they can offer the best possible practical support and advice.

“As a result, all children make excellent progress and are remarkably well prepared for their move on to school.”