A CHARITY which supports young children with additional needs has had an outstanding Ofsted report.

Staff at Springboard Opportunity Group were delighted that its Weston group was recently rated outstanding less than a year after its Clevedon group was given the same accolade.

The Weston group, which is based at Ashcombe Children's Centre, has 36 children on roll.

Inspector Denise Franklin said: "Springboard Opportunity Group Weston is highly effective and makes outstanding provision for the children in their care.

"The group has very strong links with parents, carers and other agencies, which very effectively ensure that every individual, often with complex needs, are fully met.

"Self-evaluation and professional development opportunities for staff are excellent. Leaders and managers are highly effective in striving for continual improvement in order to offer the best quality provision possible for each child."

The report added: "Staff are very skilled at understanding the often complex needs of each child.

"They have excellent knowledge of each child in their care, which supports their individual needs extremely well.

"Relationships are excellent and a key strength. Children respond extremely well to the high standard of behaviour expected by adults."

Retired Springboard play leader Grace Hewson was invited to attend a celebratory lunch in London for all the outstanding settings.

Springboard manager Joanne Harris said: "Springboard's success is down to a huge team effort. It's a great achievement to receive a double outstanding result from Ofsted and everyone at Springboard has worked so hard to ensure that we deliver a very high quality service to children and parents and carers.

"Enormous thanks must go to all of our staff, volunteers, including our Trustees and Friends of Springboard group.

"We must not forget to thank the children's parents and carers for their support and commitment to working in partnership. We also receive great support from our colleagues in the statutory services, as well as other early years providers and voluntary organisations in North Somerset."