Leicester's biggest infant school has received Ofsted's highest rating for its "exceptional" teaching of children of all abilities and backgrounds.

Uplands Infant School, in Highfields, which has nearly 500 children, was described by inspectors as "extraordinary".

"Exemplary" pastoral care, "extremely good" behaviour and "exceptionally strong" leadership has helped make the school one of the best in the country.

Leicester has three primary schools judged outstanding by Ofsted – Green Lane Infants, in Spinney Hill, Whitehall Primary, in Evington, and St Thomas More RC Primary, in Clarendon Park – and one secondary school, Rushey Mead.

Councillor Vi Dempster, Leicester City Council's education spokeswoman, said: "I want to thank all the parents, the staff and the young people themselves for this."

Ofsted inspectors were particularly impressed because many of its children come from "well-below average beginnings" to make "excellent progress".

Head teacher Jill Fletcher, who has been at the school for seven years and was described as "excellent" by inspectors, said: "We are all really pleased with this wonderful report, which is down to hard-working staff, well-behaved and interested children and very supportive parents."

All of Uplands Infants' pupils come from minority ethnic groups. The vast majority do not have English as their first language.

Inspectors wrote: "It is an exceptional school where truly every child matters.

"All staff share a passion and commitment to ensuring pupils of all abilities and backgrounds achieve as well as they can and that their personal and academic needs are effectively met.

"This results in pupils' outstanding achievement."