A BASINGSTOKE pre-school is amongst the best in the country after receiving a glowing report from Ofsted.

Noah’s Ark Pre-school was graded as “outstanding” by the education watchdog, which praised the manager’s drive to continue raising standards.

Inspectors also found that staff tailor activities around children and teach them about healthy eating.

The report said: “Parents express high levels of satisfaction with the care and support each key person offers them and their children. They report that the pre-school is a happy place where staff always make time to meet children's individual needs.”

The grading recognises the pre-school’s improvements from its previous inspection in 2011 when it was rated “good”.

Manager Linda Kelly said: “It means that all our hard work has been acknowledged by an awarding body. It’s definitely come from all the staff and the community.

“We have all been working really hard to achieve this and putting in extra work over and above what is expected.”

The pre-school, which opened in 1987 and is based at Kemp-shott Village Hall, currently looks after 85 two to five-year-olds.

Noah’s Ark celebrated the good news with parents and committee members at a fundraising Rhyme Time event which saw children take to the stage to sing to their parents.

The event raised cash towards the pre-school’s £6,000 garden refurbishment which they hope to complete this summer.