Leaders of a forest nursery in Ipswich are "delighted" after being rated outstanding by Ofsted.
The Forest Learners Nursery on Hogarth Road, Ipswich, was rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted following an inspection on March 27.
The site, which is part of the Bows and Arrows Group, caters for young children aged 0 and one.
Inspectors praised the "welcoming" nursery in which toddlers and babies "thrive".
Outdoor learning is a key focus at the site, where staff understand that some children learn more effectively outdoors and are allowed to choose their own resources and complete their tasks independently.
The report noticed how the nursery environment is set out to "inspire and challenge" children to "take risks and explore their capabilities", exploring the outdoors under the watchful eye of staff.
There is also a strong focus on staff praising the children, promoting self-confidence and independence.
The curriculum is based around using knowledge of each child to identify their interests and current stage of development, before deciding on the next steps in their learning.
The report also recognised that staff were "exceptional" at recognising babies' cues, noticing when a baby was becoming tired and singing songs gently until they fell asleep.
There is also an "open and positive culture around safeguarding" that puts the interests of the children first, the report found.
READ MORE: Outstanding Ipswich nursery 'over the moon' after earning top rating
Michelle Dent, nursery manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted with our inspection result.
"It is wonderful to see that the inspector recognised the hard work and dedication the team show every day.
"The team have worked particularly hard over the last six months moving our under 2s to the Forest learners building and creating a bespoke baby room with a calming feel and more space for our babies, both indoors and outside.
"We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care and education and to continuing with our work to improve our outdoor environment."
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