A PRIMARY school with “courteous and well-mannered” pupils has been rated ‘good’, with an ‘outstanding’ early years provision.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Stacksteads has been praised by Ofsted, with emphasis on the good behaviour of pupils, and positive and supportive relationships between staff and pupils.

Inspectors visited the school on April 5 and 6, with quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management all rated ‘good’.

The early years provision was deemed to be ‘outstanding’.

The report was a welcome change from Ofsted's previous visit to the school in 2018, when it was rated 'requires improvement'.

The inspectors said: “Children in the early years get off to the best possible start.

“Leaders have carefully considered children’s individual starting points.

“The well-organised curriculum supports children exceptionally well to develop their basic skills in speech, numbers and social communication.

“As a result, children leave the early years as curious and independent learners.”

Pupils show a “determined attitude to learn” and most learn without becoming distracted or interrupted.

In the early years, children help each other, with inspectors noting that they independently used language such as “let me show you”.

Inspectors also praised leaders for ensuring teachers quickly identify any additional needs, including SEND.

Once identified, leaders put in effective support systems and pupils are able to access the same curriculum as classmates and achieve well.

Inspectors added: “Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enjoy taking part in the different clubs and activities.

“Many take on a range of additional responsibilities. For example, pupils can become a well-being warrior, a librarian, a mathematics ambassador or a playground pal.”

The school was also praised for following effective safeguarding procedures.

To improve further and become an outstanding school, inspectors said: "Leaders have made recent adaptations to the curriculums in a small number of subjects.

"These new curriculums are in the early stages of implementation. This means that pupils’ learning is not as secure as it could be.

"Leaders should ensure teachers are familiar with the new curriculum content so they can support pupils to gain the knowledge they need to achieve well."