PUPILS at Park View Primary School are getting the best start to education thanks to the combined efforts of parents, staff and governors.

According to their latest Ofsted report, everyone is playing their part to ensure the on-going success of one of Prestwich's biggest and most popular schools.

Ofsted inspectors returned to the school for the first time in four years to find that above average standards have been maintained in most subjects and the overall quality of teaching had improved.

However, reporting inspector Mr Michael Pipes discovered that much work needed to be done to improve the quality of ICT teaching and provision. He said: "Standards in ICT have remained well below average and funding for an ICT suite has only just been made available."

Mr Pipes said that only nursery and reception pupils were making good use of the computers but for the rest of the school the equipment was not in use.

However, he was confident the school was aware of its shortcomings in this area and would tackle them once the ICT suite was up and running fully.

Other areas for improvement were highlighted as the development of music and religious education and in maths lessons; quick-fire mental arithmetic was not up to standard.

On the whole, the positive aspects of Park View far out-weighed the weaknesses and a particular strength was found in the behaviour of pupils and the school's relationship with parents.

Mr Pipes said: "Parents are very supportive and the school works closely and well with them. This is a significant strength and is manifest in, for instance, the shared commitment to high attendance."

Touching on the running of the school, the inspector said: "The leadership of governors, headteacher and staff produces an orderly, calm community where educational progress and social development are the priority."

He added: "When the pupils enter the school, they achieve well and the school adds value to their attainment."

Chairman of Governors, Mr Paul Clarke, said: "We are pleased that the inspection highlighted plenty of the strengths of Park View. I wish to publicly thank all members of staff in the school for the part they play in ensuring that children at Park View get a good education and a good start in life."