BRIGHT little ones — and the staff who look after them — were delighted to hear their nursery was given the thumbs-up just six months after opening.

After an Ofsted inspection last month, Bright Starts Day Nursery has been judged “good” by the Government’s education watchdog.

The business in Lowercroft Business Park was previously known as Lowercroft Road Educational Day Nursery but was sold and taken over by new management last November.

The nursery had been judged “satisfactory” by Ofsted in July, 2013, having been ruled inadequate in the previous February.

Last month, inspector Lyndsey Murray found Bright Starts is good at meeting the needs of children and contributing to their wellbeing and is managed and led effectively.

The quality of teaching was judged good with outstanding elements, meaning children are motivated, inquisitive and independent learners, and the nursery’s refurbished rooms were described as “rich in opportunity”.

Ms Murray also found staff have a good knowledge of children’s needs and plan suitably challenging and interesting activities and support their learning so they make good progress.

Transitions to primary school are well-supported, safe-guarding procedures are good and managers have understood the nursery’s strengths and weaknesses to make improvements.

Manager Laura Fairhurst said: “We have been here six months and we are really pleased to have done so well — I was really hoping we would get ‘good’, so everyone is pleased.

“In some areas we are outstanding and I would hope to think we can achieve outstanding following our next inspection.

“When we took over, the nursery was quite tired and in need of lots of decoration and work — we have completely modernised the inside and are continuing to improve the look of the nursery from outside.

“We have put more planning procedures in place regarding children’s learning and we have worked hard on staff support and supervisions.

“We now have funded places available for two and three-year-olds.”

To be judged outstanding at the next inspection, Bright Starts should make further use of opportunities for babies to “expand on their growing curiosity of the different sounds they make”.

The nursery should also deploy staff better to meet the needs of children in the baby room.