A HAMPSHIRE playgroup for children with special needs and their siblings has been awarded top marks by Ofsted inspectors.

Totton Opportunity Playgroup which currently caters for ten children aged from six months to five years was given the seal of approval just ahead of its move to new purpose-built premises.

Next term the group, created in 1974, will merge with the Caterpillars Pre-School to form a new group at Calmore Infant School.

In the meantime, the youngsters are meeting in a temporary classroom at Calmore Junior School.

Supervisors Diane Collier and Andrea Tipp said they were delighted with the report by the Office for Standards in education.

Mrs Collier, who has been involved with the group for the last 15 years said: "We were very pleased to receive such an outstanding report which reflects the hard work and commitment of staff and volunteers.

"We would like to thank Calmore Junior School for welcoming us and allowing us to use their outdoor areas.

"The move has been quite an upheaval, but we have had good support from Hampshire County Council and we're adapting well to our smaller premises."

Inspectors described the nursery education on offer as "high quality" with the quality of teaching "very good."

The playgroup's leadership and management was also described as "very good."

Inspectors described the playgroup's performance as "very good" in all six assessment areas.

These were personal, social and emotional development; communication, language and literacy; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development.

Inspectors found no significant weaknesses during their inspection, but asked the nursery develop activity plans to include targets for individual children.