Children have an ‘excellent start to their education’ at a ‘good’ nursery.

Inspectors visited Little Explorers Barrow at Lodge Close, Barrow, in the Ribble Valley, on April 28 and said the setting was ‘good’.

The report noted how children are ‘happy, settled and well nurtured’ and ‘develop the confidence to explore and learn from the base of strong bonds with staff’.

The report said: “Babies enjoy exploring books, as they learn to identify animals such as mice and bees.

“Toddlers begin to learn about science as they observe insect models.

“Older children impressively create their own assault courses.

“They beam with pride when they adeptly scale A-frames and raised tyres independently.”

The report described the setting as a ‘hive of activity’ where children can be heard talking and playing together with enjoyment and pleasure.

The curriculum is ‘well-sequenced’ and children are able to build up their knowledge and skills over time.

Children develop a love of literacy with babies turning book pages and listening as staff talk about the pictures.

Pre-school children confidently tell adults their 'helicopter stories' which are written down and acted out.

Value is placed on developing a curriculum to support good physical and mental health, with children engaging in 'Feel Fit Thursdays' to learn about how to look after their oral health.

They also get opportunities to engage in activities, such as peer massage, helping children to develop empathy and social skills.

Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a strength of the setting, with leaders and staff getting to know all children and their families superbly.

Delays are identified swiftly and partnerships are made with external agencies to access advice and provide children with the funding, support and specialist equipment they need.

Children benefit from a ‘range of experiences that support the development of their values, knowledge and skills’ but ‘do not fully learn about the world they live in’.

The report adds: “Music sessions and learning about artists promote children's creative development.

“Balance-ability sessions for older children enable them to become skilled in riding a balance bike.

“However, children are not taught more about communities beyond their own.

“This means that children do not fully learn about the diverse world in which they live.”

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.