MILTON Abbot Primary School is celebrating its success in becoming an 'Effective Early Learning' school after completing an 18-month rigorous period of self-evaluation. The nationally renowned Effective Early Learning Programme (EEL) is run by the Centre for Research in Early Childhood, Birmingham and seeks to improve early education and care for 4 to 7-year- olds. Teacher Catherine Pope, who led the EEL research work, said: 'Undertaking the programme has enabled us to make a real difference. 'Milton Abbot School is particularly proud of the way the whole school community has collaborated successfully to create such a high quality early learning environment.' The school will maintain its 'EEL' status by submitting further research on an annual basis as part of the ongoing quality assurance procedures. Pictured with the pupils are teaching assistant Alison Short (left) and teacher Catherine Pope (right). Picture by James Bird