TWO Swindon schools have received national praise for their "outstanding" achievements in recent Ofsted reports.

Both Grange Infant Community and St Andrew's CoE Primary schools have been listed in the Government inspectors' annual report of outstanding schools.

They are listed alongside 1,996 other schools and educational providers which were given the highest ranking by inspectors in the past 12 months.

And the Beehive Club out of school day care centre in Liden has also been included in the listings, along with three childminders from the town.

Jane Wheatley, headteacher at St Andrew's in Blunsdon, said the school had celebrated a "double whammy" with an outstanding church schools inspection shortly after the Ofsted visit in January.

"You only know what your own school is doing, and not others, which is what you are being judged against," she said.

"It's tricky to gauge how you're doing, although we knew it would be at least good' with some outstanding features. To be outstanding is very pleasing."

In a letter to pupils at the end of their visit, the inspector wrote: "Your school provides you with an excellent education.

"You feel safe and cared for because the school looks after you extremely well and gives you the highest quality support with your learning.

"You make outstanding progress and, by Year 6, reach standards that are exceptionally high."

Grange Infants headteacher Jan Thomas said the February inspection had left the school full of confidence and determination to keep on improving to ensure another outstanding report in three years' time.

She said: "We have enjoyed the time since February and being classed as outstanding.

"It has made us work harder and we have developed further still."

The inspector at Grange wrote to children saying: "Your teachers and teaching assistants are excellent because they know what each of you need to learn, and how to teach it to you.

"Your behaviour is excellent and you work well together."

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of education, children's services and skills, Christine Gilbert, said: "I am delighted to recognise, publicly, such outstanding provision across all areas of education and care and to pay tribute to all who contributed to this success."

Outstanding providers are given a distinctive "outstanding" logo which they can use on documents and their website to communicate their achievement.