NURSERY children in Malton know their helpers are top of the class with a new accreditation scheme.

Staff at Housemartins Nursery have been working hard towards an early years partnership quality kite mark - which shows they know their stuff.

Marsha Turnbull, from the nursery, said: "We have successfully completed five of the seven modules in things like welcoming new children, working with parents and the community and working together as a team.

"It has been a real team effort with everyone's help at Housemartins.

"When we started in May 1999 we said we wanted to provide quality care for the children in Malton and the surrounding area - this scheme helps us to prove that we do just that."

The kite mark was launched as a pilot scheme four years ago and taken up in the county last year.

To gain each certificate nurseries must show evidence of the top quality work they provide.

Updated: 09:56 Tuesday, July 01, 2003