A WINCHESTER pre-school has become one of the first in the area to be accredited with a national scheme.

City MP Mark Oaten visited Badger Farm Pre-school, at Badger Farm Community Centre, to present the kite-mark award and lead the celebrations.

The pre-school has been given the national stamp of approval through the Pre-School Learning Alliance's rigorous accreditation scheme, which is endorsed by Investors In Children.

Denise Tosdevine, supervisor at the pre-school, said: "This has been a culmination of 18 months of hard work involving everybody, parents, staff and the community. This is a kitemark which shows we are providing over and above the standards for education and care of the children.

"It has been a long slog, but it has brought us together as a team and involved parents, which is what we want to do, so it has been worth it."

Mr Oaten was full of praise for the hard-working staff at the pre-school.

"It has taken 18 months of work and the staff have done that as well as look after the children. It's a big commitment and congratulations to them," he said.

Badger Farm Pre-school has been running since 1986 and has 44 children on roll.