A nursery in Stoke-on-Trent is celebrating its Ofsted inspection result by hosting a party with pancakes and strawberries for children and staff.

Whitfield Valley Community Nursery has gone from requiring improvement to good in the space of a year.

Its latest Ofsted inspection took place last month and the report has just been published. It is based at the Whitfield Valley Centre in Fegg Hayes and cares for children aged two to four during term time.

Ofsted inspectors said: "Children arrive happy and eager to engage in self-chosen activities. A key-person system is in place, allowing children to develop secure bonds with staff, which helps them to feel safe.

"Leaders and staff are passionate about supporting all children and their families. Parents appreciate this and explain how leaders have signposted them to vital professional support when needed.

"Since the last inspection, leaders have made changes to both the number of children on roll and the curriculum. Staff receive training and supervision, and as a team, they reflect on what is working well and identify areas for improvement.

"Staff monitor children's progress and provide parents with plenty of ideas and guidance to extend learning at home. However, leaders do not always monitor staff when completing the two-year progress checks; as a result, the information shared with parents is not always of a high quality.

"Parents and carers highlight that staff appear 'happier' and 'less stressed'. There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first."

Nursery managers Tracy Vicarey And Melissa Mcmaster said: "We are very pleased with our Ofsted report which reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff and the care we provide to all of our children to be happy and thrive. The nursery has six staff in total, all of which are long serving staff members.

"It is a small family friendly nurturing environment where staff build strong bonds with the families and has seen many returning families with siblings within the 10 year period of being open. The nursery will hold a small party for children and staff before the February half term to celebrate our success, where children have opted for strawberries and pancakes."