Staff, parents and children at a Brislington nursery are celebrating top marks from the learning watchdog Ofsted.

Mama Bear's Day Nursery in Allison Road has been rated outstanding for its provision of early years education.

The nursery, based at the former Broomhill Youth Centre, is open Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year, from 7am to 7.30pm.

It has 136 children aged up to five attending for various sessions during the week, and has a staff of 38.

Inspector Timothy Butcher said: "Children are secure and happy in the setting. They thrive in the safe and challenging environment where they make progress in their learning and development.

"Staff provide a wide range of stimulating play activities for all children in a well organised learning environment. There is an emphasis on high quality care and an excellent partnership with parents and other professionals."

Mr Butcher said children made good progress in their learning in relation to their starting points.

"Children respond well to the frequent praise and encouragement of staff, They are considerate towards each other and frequently practise taking turns."

Nursery manager Lucy Payne and her team were praised for their excellent leadership and management.

Mama Bear's director Tony Driffield said: "We are very proud of the staff, children and parents. They have worked very hard to achieve outstanding results. The judgment reflects the high standards they have been delivering for some time."

The Brislington day nursery opened in 2004, the first Mama Bear's to be opened by Mr Driffield and his wife Bev. They have since developed their Hanham-based business to include nurseries in Shirehampton, Hengrove, Clifton, Downend and Soundwell and are soon to open a second setting in Downend especially for babies.

"This is a Bristol success story," said Mr Driffield. "We set up a service for working families and we now employ about 200 people and work with about 600 families."

The nurseries are private, so parents have to pay fees, but help is available from childcare vouchers, working families tax credit and the early education grant.

"We work with the local authority in providing care for less advantaged families and young parents who want to get back into work or study," Mr Driffield said.