Outstanding all around for Devon chain
A nursery chain in Devon has been rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in all five of its inspected settings.
Little Ones Childcare has nurseries in Westexe, Budlake, Whipton, Wonford and Honiton.
Managing director Katie Porter said, 'It's a huge achievement. I am so proud to have gained 100 per cent outstanding. It is lovely to get recognition for all the hard work we've put in and makes it all worth it.'
Only six in ten providers of childcare and early education are usually graded 'good' or 'outstanding', according to Ofsted's annual report 2007/2008.
Ms Porter puts the nurseries' success down to their high-quality provision, excellent teams and relatively small capacities, which are intended to create a home-from-home environment. The chain's largest setting, in Westexe, Exeter, is registered for 38 places.
Ms Porter opened the first nursery ten years ago in Whipton after working as a manager at another local setting, wanting to create her own vision of the perfect nursery.
Since then she has opened four other nurseries within five years. Recently she purchased a nursery that was in liquidation, bringing the total number of settings in the Little Ones chain to six. The new setting in Bovey Tracey has 44 places, but is so far only half full.
Ms Porter has kept on all the nursery's existing staff and moved a manager from one of her other nurseries to the new site.
She said, 'I have only opened nurseries from scratch before, and the new setting has been a real challenge. The nursery has huge potential and I'm really excited about it.'
- Further information: www.littleonesnursery.co.uk
