GOVERNMENT inspectors have heaped praise on an East Lancashire school.

The Ofsted team said St Alban's RC Primary in Blackburn was a very good school with many strengths and standards were high.

Children were given a very positive start in the nursery and reception classes, and most five-year-olds achieved the national targets for their age group.

The attainment of Year Six pupils was good and an increased proportion of pupils had achieved the higher level in national science tests.

The inspectors added that when the children were ready to transfer to secondary school, they were competent readers of a wide range of books and read with confidence and understanding.

They also wrote confidently, and their grasp of numbers and methods of calculation was good.

Pupils with special educational needs received support which enhanced their learning and enabled them to achieve effectively.

The attitudes of the pupils towards the school were positive, the inspectors said, and children were enthusiastic about lessons with a high level of interest in learning.

The behaviour of pupils in and out of school showed them to be well-mannered and pleasant to talk to. And they responded positively to responsibilities.

Attendance was satisfactory, the inspectors added.

The quality of teaching was a very positive feature of many lessons in the foundation stage and junior classrooms, the report concluded.

Teachers provided stimulating activities which made pupils think and encouraged them to work hard.

The headteacher provided strong leadership, which, with the support of the senior management team and staff, enabled the school to work effectively.

The governing body had a close relationship with the school and the governors fulfilled their responsibilities well, the inspectors said.

Parents said their children enjoyed going to school, the quality of teaching was of a high standard and pupils were expected to work hard.

They also believed that the school was helping their children to become mature and responsible and prepared them well for the future.

Before the inspection St Alban's received an achievement award from the Department for Education and Skills for substantial improvements in results achieved by pupils over the past three years.