A forest school and nursery which was rated inadequate by Ofsted has turned around.

The Mohair Centre at Brickfield Farm off Lewes Road, Chiddingly, has been given a good grading in its latest inspection.

It had been rated inadequate after an inspection in August last year when the education watchdog said children’s welfare is “compromised” at the facility due to “breaches of safeguarding requirements”.

The Ofsted inspector had said that the nursery’s indoor learning environments were not well organised or maintained and were “overrun with extensive amounts of toys covering the floor space”.

But in its latest report published on February 27 after an inspection on January 30, the watchdog praised the school for working hard to make significant improvements.

The nursery, which also offers childcare as a holiday play scheme and after-school club, was graded good in all four areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

The report, by inspector Rebecca James, said: “Managers have reviewed and strengthened arrangements for recruiting and checking new staff to make sure they are suitable.

“All staff have developed their understanding of procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. These changes help successfully promote children's safety and well-being.”

The nursery staff were lauded for a system that has been put in place to ensure children are always cared for by someone who understands their needs.

The report said: “Children are excited to arrive at the setting, greet their friends and check how the animals are.

“Babies are welcomed with big smiles and open arms. Staff are particularly careful to follow their familiar routines from home to help them settle quickly.

“Children enjoy spending lots of time outside on the farm and in the woods, where they have enormous fun getting messy and becoming engrossed in activities. Staff teach them how to care for animals such as rabbits, pigs and peacocks.”

 The nursery was also praised for how children develop their physical skills.

“Children walk and run over different surfaces and use tools carefully to whittle sticks,” the report said.

“They are eager to communicate with staff and talk about what they have seen and heard.”