NURSERY staff have received glowing praise from Ofsted, completing a remarkable turnaround for the institution after they were told to improve just 10 months ago.

Exceptional teaching, motivated children and excellent relationships between staff and parents mean children make outstanding progress at Headington’s Julia Durbin Day Nursery, the education watchdog said.

The findings are included in an Ofsted report which lavishes praise on the nursery in Old Road, which is offers childcare to staff at the nearby Oxford Brookes campus and those working at the Churchill Hospital.

It has been rated outstanding after an inspection in August just 10 months after an earlier audit stated it required improvement.

Ofsted inspector Jo Caswell said last month : “The quality of teaching across the nursery is outstanding.

“Staff provide an exceptional range of high-quality learning experiences for children, both inside and outside.

“As a result children are highly-motivated, eager to explore and develop a real thirst for learning.”

The inspector praised the nursery for the progress its 179 children make, including the 30 who speak Polish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Korean.

The nursery said its staff master key words in each language and create photo books to help foreign-speaking children understand how to ask for toys and equipment.

It also celebrates events like Chinese New Year and religious festivals to promote cultural diversity.

Ms Caswell said the nursery achieved the outstanding rating thanks to its “excellent partnerships” with parents. The nursery said events were held where parents discussed children’s progress with their mentors.

The nursery’s deputy manager, Jenni Ryan, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted with the result.

“Parents and staff working together over many years have made this nursery outstanding.

“Ofsted recognition is the icing on the cake.

“We are in continual pursuit of excellence at Julia Durbin, so parent views and ideas are not only valued but positively encouraged.”

The nursery has been registered since 1994 and is one of 47 sites run by the provider Childbase Partnership. Of its 42 staff, 23 hold relevant early years qualifications, according to Ofsted.

To further improve, the nursery could record more detailed information about children’s progress.

Childbase Partnership spokes-man Neil Brett said: “We actively accommodate families from any culture.

“The majority of our nurseries will have children with an additional language and we will work with the families and local authority to support those in our care.”

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