A pre-school has become the second in Oxford to win the prestigious "Aiming High certificate, writes Madeleine Pennell.

Ebbeneezer's After School Club at St Ebbe's First School in Whitehouse Road, has been presented with a certificate by Lord Mayor Maureen Christian.

Aiming High is an award made by the Government agency, the Kids Club Network, to recognise high quality after-school care.

Clubs have to submit extensive records about the facilities and activities they offer to apply for the award.

They are then subjected to a rigorous inspection by independent KCN officers.

Ebbeneezers was established in 1991 and provides child care for pupils at St Ebbe's First School, aged five to nine.

Up to 40 children attend the club each day and there is a waiting list.

Dr Lizzy Fricker, chairman of the pre-school said: "The certificate is not easy to obtain. You have to have a high standard of quality care and provide an enormous amount of paperwork.

"We are only the second after school club in Oxford to get this the other one is east Oxford.

"After school clubs provide important child care that enables mothers to go back to work or train to do something else."

East Oxford First School previously won the award.