Rascals day nursery is ‘outstanding’

The nursery, based in Tweedmouth Church Hall, is the only one in the town to have achieved such a rating.

It was deemed outstanding in every category: Effectiveness of leadership and management; quality of teaching; personal development, behaviour and welfare; and outcomes for children.

Inspector Emma Allison, who visited last month, reported: ‘This provision is outstanding. The highly ambitious manager and her inspiring staff team wholeheartedly embrace partnership working with others. This helps to provide the highest level of support for children.

‘Teaching is remarkable. Children demonstrate extremely high levels of engagement in activities. Staff continually build on children’s learning, providing rich and challenging questions that help to promote children’s thinking skills.

‘Staff provide children with superb opportunities to learn about healthy choices. Children have exceptionally strong opportunities to develop excellent literacy skills.’

Haley Trotter and Katie Flannigan took over in 2016 and said staff, parents and children were over the moon with the report.

Haley said: “When Emma called me to give me the results, I could not believe it. All our hard work had paid off. We will continue to keep up the good work and hopefully see Berwick Rascals grow from strength to strength.”

Co-owner Katie Flannigan added: “I feel like the business has grown from strength to strength. We are now at full capacity and have a small waiting list. We have grown as a team and are looking forward to what the future holds.”