A NEW FOREST nursery has been judged as Outstanding for the third time in a row.

Ballard School's nursery and early years settings received the top grade from the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

A registered setting with Ofsted, the youngest pupils within Ballard School’s Pre-Prep stages have been scrutinised separately by inspectors from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

According to a five-point scale, Ballard is ‘Outstanding’ in all areas. This includes the overall effectiveness, quality and standards of the school’s early years’ provision which, according to inspectors, offers "a supportive and caring environment for learning, putting children first."

Rating the effectiveness of leadership and management at Ballard, the report highlighted the generous levels of staffing, rigorous monitoring of academic standards, the high level of pastoral care and the overwhelming support expressed by parents.

In addition, inspectors’ comments on quality of teaching, learning and assessment included: "High expectations for each child are fully met through excellent communication and role modelling by older children."

Pupil mentoring is one of the many benefits of Ballard’s through-school family ethos.

More than 70 per cent of Ballard’s Reception cohort last year exceeded age-related expectations.

Headmaster Alastair Reid said: "We are extremely proud to have received the Outstanding rating in all areas of our pre-prep years’ provision for the third time in a row.

"The points highlighted are testament to our provision of an all-round education which allows children to settle into a positive learning environment and exceed all expectations.’"

Ballard School is an independent, non-selective, co-educational day school for children from nursery age to GCSE.