A GRIMSBY pre-school that is to expand in the spring has been rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Lisle Marsden Childcare Ltd was rated by the education watchdog just weeks after schools were warned that "good" was the minimum expected of them.
The report found children make "excellent progress", relationships with parents are "extremely strong" and children are "secure, confident and independent".
Johanna Ogren-Smith, manager of the nursery for children aged two to five, said the achievement was down to the dedicated staff and "lovely" parents and children.
She said: "It makes it more special that we were inspected after Ofsted changed the way it inspects schools and how they are ranked, which supposedly makes it more difficult to achieve an outstanding mark. I put it all down to the hard work of the staff, they work extremely hard. It is also down to the children and the parents who make our work so enjoyable."
It signals the start of an exciting time for the nursery, which is going to be made larger to provide a separate place for two-year-olds, resulting in extra spaces for all age groups.
Next week work will also start on a communal space to provide activities and support for parents of the pre-school and primary school children.
Mrs Ogren-Smith said: "We work all the time to improve and progress, we keep the things we do well and make changes where we can improve.
"We are forward thinking and everything we do is for the good of the children.
"It is an exciting time for the nursery and can only be onwards and upwards from here."
Staff work to provide a nurturing environment for the children meaning they settle in well during their first few weeks at the pre-school.
Four-year-old Ruby Burgess said: "I like coming here a lot and I love Mrs Toop. I like making trees with her."
Classmate Mathilda Cuthbert, 4, said: "I like playing in the home corner the most. Pre-school is fun."
