AN OSWALDTWISTLE special school is celebrating after receiving a glowing report from Ofsted inspectors.

White Ash Special School, in Thwaites Road, caters for children with a range of profound and multi-learning difficulties, physical disabilities and those on the autistic spectrum.

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Lead inspector John Ashley gave the school an outstanding mark in all five judged categories: leadership and management, behaviour and safety of pupils, quality of teaching, achievement of pupils, and early years provision.

Mr Ashley said: “The outstanding leadership and management of the headteacher and her senior team have led to exceptional improvements since the last inspection so that the school is now outstanding in all areas.

“There is a very clear vision and sense of direction, shared by all concerned, leading to exceptionally high staff morale.

“There are high levels of support and appreciation from parents for the work done by the school in support of the pupils.

“A large majority of all groups of pupils make good or outstanding progress from their starting points. Pupils eligible for pupil premium funding make the same level of progress as their peers.”

Phillipa Conti, who has been head at the school for eight years, said: “It’s been a definite step forwards for our school. We are so proud of the Ofsted findings. We have worked hard to achieve it. It can’t be done by one person alone.

"It’s a team effort. Not only is it the leadership team, but also the governors, teaching staff, teaching assistants – which make up a significant number of the staff in our school because of the range of needs – as well as all the multi disciplinary professionals, parents and of course pupils. We can now say we offer outstanding provision.

“It gives us a significant foundation to work on. There is always room for improvement and further developments.

“We feel it’s well deserved following the reorganisation of the local special schools in Ribble Valley and Hyndburn.”

Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “For White Ash to get outstanding is more tremendous news for the area. It’s a good tribute to some very hard working staff there that has made this possible.”