AIREDALE General Hospital’s day nursery is in good health after receiving a glowing report from Ofsted.

The Nightingales Day Nursery, which cares for more than 80 children in Steeton, was rated as Good in every area.

The facility was praised for its effective leadership, teaching quality, and the personal development, behaviour, welfare and progress of children.

Inspectors also praised the outcomes for children when they were ready to move on to school.

This included work by staff to prepare children for school including good progress with literacy and counting.

The report stated: “Children learn to take turns, listen to others and follow instructions which contributes well to their readiness to start school. There are also good links with other settings to ensure continuity in their learning and a smooth transition on to school.”

Inspectors highlighted the excellent relationship between parents and staff, and how staff provided “good support to children and their parents to help them quickly settle into nursery routine.”

Inspectors commended staff as being well qualified, trained in first aid, and having a robust understanding of how to keep children safe. The report added: “Staff provide good opportunities for babies to use different resources to move with and strengthen their balance when they recognise they are ready to try walking.”

Val Hogg, Childcare Provision Manager at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the report. She said: “It’s a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff and a reflection of their commitment to the children they care for every day.”

The nursery cares for babies from 10 weeks old to school age, from 7am to 7pm, five days a week.

It is one of five nurseries in the region to receive a share of £500,000 from the Early Years Capital Fund to extend its facilities. A new building will be in place by the end of November. From January 2018 the nursery will then have extra vacancies for three and four-year-olds. Ofsted inspectors said Nightingales was good rather than outstanding because staff did not consistently adjust their interaction during activities to fully meet children’s developing learning needs and help them achieve the highest standards. Staff development was not yet sharply focused to ensure the best rate improvement in teaching quality.