A school in Colne, that caters for pupils with complex needs, has been praised by Ofsted for being “calm and welcoming”.

All pupils at The Nook School, which has 12 children registered, have special educational needs (SEND) and/or disabilities.

Inspectors said pupils at the school, in Knotts Lane, receive a “high level of care” from staff who make sure pupils settle in quickly.

The report said: “Staff know the pupils well. Pupils benefit from the positive relationships that they have with staff. Pupils are happy.”

Pupils at the school, which is run by Hexagon Care Services, are said to “take pride in doing well at school” and “develop positive attitudes to their learning and achievements”.

It has been praised for being a “calm and orderly” space, where pupils can “learn without interruption”.

According to the report, the school prioritises the development of pupil’s social skills and resilience. They are also taught how to efficiently manage their emotions.

Pupils are encouraged to become independent young people and “take an active role in shaping their own education”.

The school also provides opportunities for pupils to “develop their talents and interests” and has previously taken children to museums, leisure centres and beyond.

Inspectors said the school has “broad and ambitious” curriculums and pupils are said to be “fully prepared for each stage of their education”.

Subjects are “matched carefully” to each of the pupils’ interests and abilities, with their additional needs considered, so they can go on to achieve a wide range of qualifications.

The report said: “They are well prepared to tackle the demands of increasingly challenging courses.

"Pupils learn to succeed where they may have found learning difficult in the past.”

Inspectors praised the school’s reading education and said pupils are encouraged to develop their enjoyment of reading, particularly of books that help the pupils to “broaden their understanding of the wider world”.

Parents have a positive view of the independent school.

The report said: “Staff welcome the care and consideration that the school has for their workload.

"For example, a comprehensive programme of training provides the support that staff need to carry out their roles effectively.

“Parents have a positive view of the school. They appreciate the information that they receive which keeps them up to date about their child’s achievements.”

The report also highlighted areas where The Nook School, which caters for pupils aged 11-18, could improve, including the teaching of phonics.

The report said: “A small number of pupils do not receive the support that they need to develop their phonics knowledge.

"This is because the school has not set out its approach to the teaching of early reading.

"As a result, these pupils do not catch up quickly with the phonics knowledge that they need to become confident and fluent readers.”