Inspectors have praised a Uttoxeter nursery's "nurturing, welcoming environment" after rating it "outstanding" for the third successive year.

Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery completed a hat-trick of Ofsted successes after achieving the watchdog's top mark once again.

It was rated "outstanding" in all six sub-categories with staff coming in for special praise for how happy and relaxed pupils are at the Cheadle Road facility.

Inspector Amanda Tompkin said: The management team and staff are highly ambitious and extremely passionate about providing outstanding care and learning experiences.

"Leaders and managers meticulously monitor the progress and achievement of children ... (who) make exceptional progress.

Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery, in Uttoxeter, celebrating a third successive "outstanding" Ofsted rating

"The quality of teaching is exceptional. Staff provide children with exciting activities that enthuse and challenge them. Children are highly engaged and motivated in their play.

"Children are extremely confident and settled at the nursery. They thrive in this nurturing, welcoming environment, where they quickly make bonds with staff and friendships with other children.

"Excellent relationships with parents ensure children's individual needs are expertly met. Parents comment on how fantastic the staff are.

"They feel fully informed about their children's routines, activities and progress. Parents express how staff routinely 'go above and beyond expectations.'

"To further improve the quality of the early years provision, (Cheeky Monkeys) should continue to review the impact of staff's professional development on the excellent outcomes for children's learning."

To celebrate the landmark achievement, the children were treated to an all-day party.

Youngsters enjoying their party.

They enjoyed a DJ, a bouncy castle, face painting, glitter "tattoos", party games, party food, speciality cakes - and the children even designed their own mocktails.

Nursery manager Laura Hancocks said: "We are so incredibly proud of our staff for their hard work and dedication, our children for being our inspiration and our parents for their ongoing support.

"We have worked so hard to keep up the standards that we have achieved over the years to make sure that all of our children have a high-quality, fun pre-school education and we already have plenty more new developments in the pipeline.

"We're dedicated to continual improvement to maintain this accolade."