The integrated nursery of special needs charity Kisharon has been praised as outstanding by Ofsted inspectors.

They found children at Tuffkid in Golders Green making "excellent progress in all areas due to the highly effective planning and monitoring of their achievements".

Staff were dedicated and "exemp-lary" in fostering learning and development and the nursery maintained a productive dialogue with parents.

The inspectors also noted the "outstanding concentration skills" of the children.

Tuffkid is a centre of excellence and professionals from a variety of areas have paid fact-finding visits.

It has 26 children and is 50 per cent oversubscribed, but always tries to accommodate those with special needs.

Kisharon chief executive Beverley Jacobson said: "Tuffkid is an inspirational environment and this accolade is well deserved by head teacher Janice Marriott and her staff."