The Government inspector said, although McMillan Nursery School is situated in an area where there is significant social and economic deprivation, the children thrive in the centre's excellent nuturing environment.

Inspector Carole Cressey gave outstanding grades to the nursery for all aspects its work and said its wide range of high quality resources and activities challenge and inspire children.

She said: "Although the majority of children start nursery with levels of development well below those expected for their ages, they thrive in this excellent nuturing environment, make rapid progress and most leave with the skills expected of them.

"Learning is such fun that children make remarkable gains in their personal qualities and quickly adjust to school routines. Children's enjoyment of school is evident as they happily wave goodbye to their parents and eagerly decide what is going to be their first exciting task of the day."

She added that the children's behaviour is thoughtful and polite and they leave the nursery lively, confident and friendly.

She added:"Parents really do value the richness of the curriculum the school has to offer, recognising that with the best will in the world as parents they cannot provide all the many valuable experiences the school does.

"In just one day a child can be involved in preparing a meal to celebrate the Chinese New Year, mixing cement to build a wall, as well as bathing Mrs Wishy Washy's farm animals, making a pair of binoculars and learning to write both names and learning simple addition and subtraction."

Headteacher Mrs Gillian Wroe added: "We're all very pleased to receive such an outstanding report. I think Nelson is very lucky to have such good LEA nurseries which have all had good results recently. It's definitely a pat of the back for everyone here."