Smart Training, which celebrates its tenth birthday in November, currently has 1,000 trainees studying the foundation and advanced modern apprenticeship programme of NVQ qualifications in early years care and education.
Smart scored grade one, which denotes outstanding, in four out of five categories - the quality of learning in early years care and education, leadership and management, quality assurance, and equality of opportunity.
It scored grade two - good - for the quality of its learning in management.
Smart Training's director of operations, Helen Mardell, said that the company was 'over the moon' and the results were 'way beyond anything we ever expected'. She added, 'We are absolutely delighted with the results of the inspection by the Adult Learning Inspectorate. We know we do a very good job and we help our trainees achieve excellent results, but it is very rewarding to have this confirmed.'
Around 75 per cent of the company's trainees are studying NVQ Level 3 in early years care and education and 25 per cent are studying Level 3 and 4 NVQs in management. Smart Training also provides students with off-the-job training at 30 regional venues in England on one Saturday a month.
Inspectors graded 82 per cent of the learning sessions they observed as 'good' or 'outstanding'.
The ALI report said, 'The off-the-job training on Saturdays is well planned and taught. Learners find the training useful and motivational. The sessions are highly practical and best use is made of the learners'
workplace experience.'
Ms Mardell said providing training on a Saturday had the benefit of allowing a number of staff from the same nursery to attend sessions because it was 'difficult for nurseries to release trainees and keep the staff:child ratios' and providing off-the-job training in this way was 'very efficient and very effective'.
The inspectors also praised Smart Training's good working relationship and good communication with childcare employers in a range of settings. They said, 'Learners produce excellent work-based projects that are of direct relevance to their development and benefit their nursery.'
Lorna Fitzjohn, a member of the ALI early years team, said Smart's grades were 'quite unusual'. Inspectors also commended the good retention and achievement rates of learners.
The full report is on the website www.ali.gov.uk.