AN early years centre at St Gregory the Great School has been given a glowing report by Ofsted after its first ever inspection.

The Pod was rated outstanding by the education standards watchdog after it was inspected earlier this month.

The centre in Cricket Road, East Oxford, provides care and education for children aged under three from 7.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays.

Leaders and managers were said to work tirelessly to ensure that children received care and education of 'the very highest quality.'

The Pod was said to have a culture in which staff valued the training and guidance on offer and staff were deemed to make every possible effort to make sure all children and parents felt valued and welcome.

In her report inspector Sarah Holley said: "Children are extremely well prepared for their future learning including their move to school.

"Leaders continue to monitor their progress after they have left the nursery and are rightly proud of how well these children do.

"All children develop a very strong set of skills on which to build as they continue to learn and develop."

The Pod, which has 22 youngsters on its roll, was said to be able to improve even further if staff continued to develop opportunities for children to learn about their culture and the culture of others.