IT IS a world leader in interactive education, and now a Hampshire infant school has been asked to show European schools how it is done.

Ranvilles Infant School is the only infant school in the world to have their children and staff learning in virtual reality classrooms.

The school, in Fareham, has also proven its success in other areas, having garnered ten top education awards in the last year.

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) allows children and their families to access school and leisure activities online both at home and at school.

Pupils have their very own online e-portfolio of work, share opinions through book reviews and discussion forums, and set each other online challenges.

This innovative work has been such a success for the school that head teacher Wendy Collins and lead teacher in ICT, Fiona Aubrey-Smith, have been invited to present a conference in Germany to show schools from across Europe how it has enhanced their teaching.

Ms Aubrey-Smith said: "We are both really excited about the trip and proud to know that our school is leading the way in interactive learning.

"The children have loved using the VLE and parents have responded really well, expressing how pleased they are with what we are doing.

"Parents have told us how homework is no longer a point of contention anymore with the children - it is now seen as a treat."

However, the school not only excels in IT.

In the last 12 months it has won ten awards, the two most recent being the enhanced status Healthy Schools Award and the ActiveMark Award, which recognises its commitment to physical activity.

Head teacher Mrs Collins said: "All this reinforces the innovation and commitment from the entire community of Ranvilles Infant School.

"Children, families and staff are very much a team.

"To be part of the VLE from the very beginning, I thought would be really important as ITC has always been a great strength of this school."