PRE-SCHOOL youngsters and staff are celebrating a positive inspection.

Halstead Pre-School, based at Richard de Clare Primary School, in Parsonage Street, Halstead, has been rated “good” by school inspectorate Ofsted.

The report reads: “Children behave very well.

“They build strong relationships and develop solid friendships with other children as they freely explore the many interesting activities within the pre-school.

“Children are motivated to learn and demonstrate good levels of confidence and self-esteem.

“Staff provide effective support for almost all aspects of children’s learning.

“They regularly identify children’s next steps in learning and provide interesting and enjoyable activities to support these.

“Staff continually promote children’s understanding of their personal safety during day-to-day activities, such as when riding wheeled toys in the outside area.”

However, the report says that in order to be outstanding, the pre-school needs to enhance staff ’s professional development and encourage parents for whom English is a second language to get involved in their children’s learning at home.