A HEREFORD nursery has improved so much over the past year that it is now classed as 'outstanding'.

Wyeside Nursery, formerly Fourways Day Nursery, was awarded the mark by Ofsted less than a year after it was told that it 'required improvement'.

Inspector Rachel Wyatt said that the owner, manager and staff at the Vicarage Road nursery are 'passionate about their work and uncompromising in their highly effective drive for improvement' and babies and children 'thoroughly enjoy themselves'.

"They are enthusiastic and purposeful learnings, responding to the staff's excellent teaching and the many exciting activities and resources they plan and organise for them," said Ms Wyatt.

"In particular, their learning is enriched by a wealth of rewarding and appropriately challenging outdoor activities."

Ms Wyatt added that excellent partnerships with parents, carers and others make a strong contribution to the staff's highly effective provision for each child's needs, leading to timely interventions and tailored support for individual children.

Amanda Crosthwaite, proprietor at Wyeside Nursery, said that there are now plans to turn the site into an eco-nursery.

"We have an established forest school garden where children experience daily outdoor activities with a child-led approach enabling holistic development that promotes confidence, self-esteem, risk taking, concentration skills, academic achievement and a re-connection with nature, she said.

"Myself and the manager Tammy Redding are so proud of the staff who have all worked so hard to get such an amazing result."