A WEST Devon primary where pupils thoroughly enjoy school and achieve well has been praised for its outstanding features.

Education inspectors say Lydford Primary is a good school with a raft of outstanding practice.

And, they say, it is set to do even better in the future because of the strength, commitment and enthusiasm of staff and the wholehearted support of parents and the local community.

'Pupils flourish socially and progress well academically,' they say.

'They derive a lot of pleasure from learning and working together.'

The pupils even told the inspectors: 'Teachers work hard. They even make the boring bits of lessons into fun.'

Lead inspector Laurie Lewin spent two days at Lydford last month and his report has just been published by the school standards agency Ofsted.

It concludes: 'This good school has its sights firmly fixed on doing even better.

'The school is successful because the headteacher does an excellent job of helping the staff work together as a strong, committed and enthusiastic team.

'The success is also based on the high-quality links established with parents and external organisations. In this way the school is very much the hub of the local community.'

The vast majority of parents commend the school for its work, says Mr Lewin.

One told him: 'Lydford School is a great school.'

Another said: 'The support provided by the staff is second to none.'

Mr Lewin says children get off to a flying start at Lydford and settle quickly and easily into the Early Years Foundation Stage, making good progress.

Across the school, teachers work well with teaching assistants to ensure that learning is lively and interesting for all pupils.

'The excellent relationships between adults and pupils ensure that all individuals engage well with activities and feel encouraged to do their best. Excellent behaviour and motivation from the pupils means that all lessons are conducive to providing good progress,' says Mr Lewin.

The curriculum is engaging and exciting and the school has a good range of extra-curricular activities for its size.

Care, guidance and support are outstanding as are the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

'The headteacher and staff are passionate about getting the very best out of the pupils and are well supported by the governors in their work,' says Mr Lewin.

'The headteacher is especially effective in ensuring the drive for constant improvement is very much part of the fabric of everyday life in the school.'

To continue its improvement, Mr Lewin says the school should improve writing – something which staff have already energetically embarked on – and ensure every pupil knows exactly what they need to do reach the next level in their work.

Headteacher Linda Wells said: 'The whole school is delighted with this excellent report.

'It firmly endorses the hard work of all the staff and governors which has made this a happy, lively and successful learning environment.'