A DARLINGTON nursery is celebrating after achieving its sixth consecutive 'outstanding' report from Ofsted.

George Dent Nursery School in Elms Road, which opened in 1917, is the second oldest nursery school in the country and is thought to be the first to have six consecutive such reports.

A review of Ofsted inspections shows that the nursery is one of 20 schools to achieve an 'outstanding' award five consecutive times up to August 2014, but it is understood that none of the others have gone on to achieve a sixth.

Executive head teacher Neil Parker is delighted with the achievement and said: “This is a truly remarkable achievement and one that we are incredibly proud of and is testament to the quality of the early years education provided at this school.

“Our aim is to provide an outstanding experience for children aged two to four years that gives them the best start in learning so they are able to start full time school as confident, curious and independent learners.

“Our sixth consecutive 'outstanding' rating proves that that is exactly what we do."

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, added: “This is fantastic news.

“I warmly congratulate everyone at the nursery for this tremendous achievement.

“To be part of an elite group of only 20 nurseries schools to achieve five consecutive 'outstanding' reports is fantastic, but to eclipse all of those to become the first and only nursery school to achieve six is amazing.”

The report praised the nursery for its high standards of behaviour learning, teaching, teamwork and leadership, while the outdoor play area was described by inspectors as “a real paradise”.