More than a dozen nurseries and pre-schools across Kent have been awarded the prestigious Kent Quality Mark.

A total of 14 across the county have received the award, including seven in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.

The mark is a quality assurance scheme designed to encourage nurseries and pre-schools to raise their standards even higher.

It has been revealed that there is a high correlation between those who take part in the scheme and those who secure improvements of Ofsted grading from good to outstanding.

Roger Gough, cabinet member for education, learning and skills said: “Congratulations to the excellent nurseries and pre-schools which have achieved this outstanding level of good practice.

"They deserve full credit for demonstrating the highest standards involved in running an early years organisation.

“High quality early education is critical to creating a passion in the very youngest children to become lifelong learners. Nurseries and pre-schools play such a vital role in a young child’s start in life.

“91% of early years providers in Kent are good or outstanding as rated by Ofsted and the Kent Quality Mark is making sure standards remain high and keep on improving."

In the Sevenoaks area the Ide Hill Pre-school, St Michael’s Prep School, Otford, St Thomas Pre-school, South Park and The Children’s Workshop were awarded the mark.

In Tunbridge Wells the Horsmonden Kindergarten, Little Rascals Nurseries and Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery in Cranbrook were also awarded on Thursday July 10.