A small community school where pupils are ‘happy and safe’ has retained its ‘good’ Ofsted rating following its recent inspection.

Salterforth Primary School in Cross Lane, Barnoldswick, was inspected by Ofsted on July 11 and 12 and retained its ‘good’ rating for the second consecutive time.

Inspectors highlighted pupils’ hard work, and their positive learning attitude and good behaviour which includes older peoples demonstrating kindness towards younger students.

The report said pupils reflect school values in their every day actions.

It states: “Pupils actively contribute to initiatives in their local community. They are eager to run stalls at the village fete and litter pick around the local area.

"Pupils are well prepared to be responsible citizens in a modern world.

“Pupils work hard to meet staff’s high expectations of their academic achievement and their personal development. Pupils benefit from leaders’ emphasis on emotional health and well-being.”

Also praising the staff for their hard work, the report said: “Staff ensure that pupils with more complex needs get the help that they need to manage their feelings.

"Staff support all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well.”

The report notes the curriculum content is ambitious for all pupils and children, including those with SEND, and leaders ensure pupils keep on top of their vocabulary to help them for future learning.

Inspectors added that while in most subjects, leaders have ensured that teachers know how to deliver the curriculum effectively, in a small number of subjects, “teachers do not have secure subject knowledge”.

The report added: “Occasionally, this hinders some pupils from gaining a sufficiently secure enough understanding of concepts.”

Reading is a priority in the school so staff begin teaching children to read as soon as they begin in Reception and most students learn to read accurately and fluently as staff deliver the phonics programme “consistently well.”

The report said: “Teachers ensure pupils practise their reading using books that are well matched to the sounds that they are learning.

“Staff provide some additional support for those pupils who struggle to learn to read. However, from time to time, this support is not as effective as it could in enabling pupils to catch up with their peers.

“Older pupils spoke enthusiastically about reading. They said that they particularly enjoy reading Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets.

"Pupils value the time that they spend in the school library. They have a thorough knowledge of a range of authors.

“Pupils enjoy listening to the books that their teachers share with them each day. This fosters a love of reading.”

The inspectors continued to praise the students as lessons are rarely disrupted by poor behaviour and pupils understand and respect the differences between people.

The arrangements for safeguarding are effecting and pupils know how to keep themselves and others safe.