An infant school in the New Forest is one step closer to achieving Ofsted's top rating.

Wildground Infant School on Crete Road in Dibden Purlieu was rated 'Good' in September 2017.

Ofsted inspectors returned to the school this September for an ungraded inspection.

While the rating did not change, had the school been subject to a graded inspection it would likely have been rated “outstanding”, the report said.

Lead inspector Lea Hannam said pupils meet the high expectations adults have of them.

Her report said: “The possibilities are endless for pupils who attend this school.

“Leaders are aspirational for all pupils. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve extremely well.”

The report says pupils' behaviour at the school is excellent and described Wildground as "a calm and purposeful place to learn".

"Pupils are happy here. Playtimes are busy and fun, and pupils feel safe.

“They know that grown-ups will listen to them if they have any worries. All staff who work in the school understand their role in keeping pupils safe.”

The report says the school has an ambitious and established curriculum and that “the school’s ethos to ‘learn and succeed together for the journey ahead’ permeates all aspects of school life”.

It added: “The school has an ambitious and established curriculum in place from nursery to Year 2.

“This curriculum offer starts with an exceptional early years setting where staff are experts in early education. Staff take into account the children’s starting points skilfully.”

Headteacher, Amanda Mullett, told the Echo: “This is fantastic, and I am very proud of the whole school community who have put so much effort into this achievement.”

She added: “What I talk to staff about is preparing the children for the journey ahead. It is really important that is on our minds the whole time when they’re teaching and that’s always what our focus is.”