A nursery has received a glowing review by education watchdog Ofsted as it keep its “outstanding” rating despite a change in requirements.

Bosses at the Little Explorers Kindergarten in Northfleet say they are only the second place within the year that the inspector has awarded this rating to.

Owner and manager Theresa Callaghan said: “We have an incredible, amazing team. We were over the moon to receive the result. We are still reeling on the total excitement of it all.

“We are in an area of deprivation. People think quite low of the area, but we work with some of the best families. They are happy and trying their best for their children.

“Our families are an inspiration for us. They really are and they gave us some amazing feedback. Thank you for trusting us with your children.”

The business in Hive Lane, which opened in 2015, was inspected by Ofsted on May 18 and was awarded “outstanding” across the board for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The report stated: “Children are safe, confident and incredibly happy at this inspiring kindergarten setting. They receive the utmost care and attention from the passionate staff.

“The manager and staff go above and beyond to ensure that children get every possible resource available to them.

“Partnership working with parents is exceptional. Parents say that staff go “above and beyond' and their children thrive and make excellent progress”.

Inspectors said the children also have an “excellent awareness of their local community and are fully involved in community life” as they help plant and maintain the community flower beds, and staff are “highly skilled” in developing their language.

Theresa, who has worked in childcare for 35 years, said: “Many provisions have not managed to maintain their ‘outstanding’ rating as the requirements have become harder.

“However, we have continued to meet all the requirements and improve the delivery of our service.

“I do not think we are doing anything special. We are just working with our parents and children to do the best for them.

“We are delivering our curriculum around the requirements but we adapt it to the needs of our children. We have children at the centre of what we focus on. It changes each year to meet their needs.”

The provision has 26 children attend its morning sessions and will be expanding in September to open in the afternoon.

Last month, the schools’ watchdog announced changes to the inspection system in England following the death of Reading head teacher Ruth Perry, after her school was downgraded to the lowest rating by Ofsted.

Schools will now be given more information around the timing of their inspections, and a consultation on reforms to the complaints system will be launched.

Little Explorers Kindergarten also has a site in Dickens Road, Gravesend, which opened in 2013 and, as of 2019, has a “good” Ofsted rating.