A VILLAGE primary school near Okehampton has been praised as ‘warm and welcoming’ by school standards body Ofsted.

An inspection carried out at Exbourne Church of England Primary School on July 7 found the school to be meeting a strong standard of inclusion and expected standards across all other categories.

The inspection confirms the school's particular strength in supporting pupils with special educational needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Inspectors said "pupils who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive at this school" and that the school's "smaller size has not stopped it from providing its pupils with a wide range of opportunities to support pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

The report also reported that staff had developed positive relationships with families to understand their needs.

The inspectors reported: “Regardless of any barriers to learning that pupils may have, school leaders and staff are highly ambitious for what pupils can achieve…the trust’s experienced SEND team complements the school and staff knowledge of the pupils. This breadth of experience ensures that any barriers to learning are quickly identified.”

Headteacher Sarah Counter said: "We are delighted with this outcome, which reflects the work of our whole school community. Our staff are committed to creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive, and this inspection recognises the effort they put in every day. We are particularly pleased that inspectors recognised our work supporting pupils with SEND and those who are disadvantaged. We would like to thank our staff, families, trustees and our wider trust for their continued support and partnership."

Rachel Shaw, chief executive of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, of which the school is part, said: "This inspection result demonstrates the quality of education Exbourne CofE Primary School provides in a warm, nurturing environment. Sarah and her team have created a caring and ambitious school that serves its community very well. We are proud to work together and support their continued development."