STAFF and pupils at Tavistock Primary School are celebrating a great start to the new term with the publication of a glowing Ofsted report, following a rigorous inspection before Christmas.

The inspectors found the 402-pupil school provided very good value for money and were particularly impressed with the 'excellent' provision for pupils with special educational needs, numbers of which are well above the national average.

The report stated: 'The school makes good provision for all pupils across its wide ability range.

'The provision for pupils with special educational needs in the support centre is outstanding and all pupils are very successfully included in the life of the school.'

The quality of teaching at the school was good at all stages with generally high standards across most subjects, the report noted.

The inspectors found there was 'very good leadership by the headteacher, who is well supported by his senior management team'.

They said staff were 'highly motivated to raising standards and providing their pupils with high quality schooling'.

The team said: 'All staff are positive role models and all pupils reflect the sensitivity and respect they are shown.

'This contributes very well to the positive ethos and happy community spirit of the school.'

The inspectors found the curriculum broad and well balanced with a very good range of additional activities.

'The school sets a very caring environment where each child is valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential,' the report stated.

In their recommendations for improvements, the inspectors said the school should seek to extend the 'very good practice' seen in many classrooms, provide more time for senior managers to carry out their roles and improve pupils' preparation for life in a multi-cultural society.

Headteacher Joe Flynn said he was 'absolutely delighted' with the findings of the seven-man inspection team.

He said: 'I am so pleased the whole school has moved forward since the last inspection.

'We certainly felt we were well and truly grilled — they were a very good and very astute team who left no stone unturned, but the whole process has brought all the staff closer together as a team and the children did us proud — they were great.'

Mr Flynn said the team inspected more than 100 lessons during their week at the school. Not one of them was unsatisfactory, 78 per cent were good or better, with 25 per cent very good or excellent.

'That's an outstanding achievement for a big school like this, especially when you have 24 teachers,' said Mr Flynn.

Kathy Palmer, chairman of governors, was thrilled with the report and 'very pleased' the school had received such recognition.

She said: 'I thought it was a real endorsement of the school. It's a tribute to the excellent, all-round education and variety of experiences that the school provides for its pupils.

'Ofsted is always a bit nerve-racking, but this report is a reflection of the huge commitment of the entire staff — I'm delighted.'