GOVERNMENT inspectors have given Ferndale Infant School high praise.

Ofsted inspectors' verdict on the school was good overall but outstanding for its personal development and wellbeing programme.

Publication of the report comes just weeks after official approval of plans to merge the infant school with Ferndale Junior to create a new primary.

Infant school headteacher Christine Griffin said: "I am absolutely delighted at this report.

"The entire personal development and wellbeing section was given an outstanding mark, except for attendance.

"I am proud of our children and thrilled that the school's outstanding work in personal development and wellbeing, which was earlier looked at by HMI (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education), has been sustained.

"We received an outstanding mark for the section then and the same has happened now, which is brilliant.

"The staff team is to be congratulated for making the school such a happy place to learn"

The Ofsted report said: "Children thrive in this happy school and develop outstanding personal skills for their age because of the excellent provision for their personal development. From Foundation Stage to Year 2, children behave extremely well and take a lot of responsibility for their work.

"This is a real strength of the school and underpins children's academic success."

Neil Uzzell, the chairman of governors, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the school.

"It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of the headteacher, all staff, governors and parents and not forgetting the children themselves.

"This has given an excellent foundation for the future of the new Ferndale Primary School."

At the end of February a Government adjudicator approved a plan floated by Swindon Council to create Ferndale Primary School by amalgamating the infant and junior schools, which already share a site.

In approving the move, the adjudicator said there needed to be a strong determination to maintain and develop the strengths of the infant school's provision and leadership.