A specialist pre-school has been praised for its ‘exceptional’ work after receiving an outstanding rating by inspectors.

Dorchester Opportunity Group, a pre-school facility for children with additional needs living in west Dorset, was rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas by school watchdog Ofsted.

It is the second ‘outstanding’ for the the group, who also achieved the highest rating following an inspection in 2011.

The centre, based on Maiden Castle Road, has taken children from Dorchester, Bridport and Weymouth for the last 25 years. It supports children and their families living with learning disabilities such as autism, speech and language delay and Down’s syndrome.

All children who benefit from the work of the group are referred by paediatricians, health visitors, speech and language therapists or social workers.

The group faced an uncertain future last year after announcing a funding shortfall but was handed a lifeline in the form of a Children in Need grant.

A report from the Ofsted inspector says: “The committee and manager have a strong commitment to providing the very best for the children in their care.

“The setting is exceptionally well resourced. Children benefit from extensive opportunities for sensory play and activities that staff effectively adapt for individual children.

“Staff put children’s welfare at the heart of everything they do. They are sensitive and caring in their approach and relish in children’s achievements. Partnership with parents is exceptional. Management and staff provide families with practical and emotional support that benefits children’s care, learning and development very successfully.”

To celebrate their latest achievement, the trustees held a party for all the children and their families, the staff, colleagues and supporters.

Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Susie Hosford, also joined the celebrations and congratulated the group.

Manager Nyree Gibbs said: “We are thrilled and it was difficult keeping the news quiet until we could tell everyone officially, but now we can shout it from the roof tops.”

Penny Gray, chairman of trustees, thanked everyone involved for their hard work and support.