A PRESTWICH preschool has been rated as "Good" by Ofsted.

Yocheved Segal Creche, in Sedgley Park Road, was found to be "good" in all areas after an inspection by the Government's education watchdog on January 18.

The creche, registered in 2015, provides full-time, funded early years education for one and two-year-old children, as part of the Yesoiday Hatorah School — an academy set up in April 2011.

The creche was determined to give children "good opportunities to develop their imaginations and reinforce their literacy skills", as well as "explore numbers" and "practice their early writing skills."

Children at Yocheved Segal were described as ready for the next stages of learning and school, and they are "independent" and "confident communicators", the report said.

Management and staff were praised as always having "children's best interests at heart" and described as "qualified and knowledgeable".

The report highlighted the provision of "good-quality teaching and learning" as well as "effective" safeguarding; and also recognised the efforts that the creche was going to during a period of expansion to minimise disruption to children's learning and wellbeing.

According to the regulator:"Staff encourage children's emotional wellbeing very well. They are kind, friendly and welcoming and help children feel special.

"Children are happy and motivated to learn as they move through their day. Children's behaviour is very good."

The report added: "Staff interact well with children. They listen closely to what children say and fully immerse themselves in play."

However Ofsted further detailed what the creche could to improve, spotlighting opportunities to "enhance children's thinking skills and give them the time they need to put their own thoughts into words", and "increase opportunities for children to make choices about what they play when they go outdoors."