Eastburn Junior & Infant School is celebrating a glowing Ofsted report.

The 196-pupil school was graded “good” overall and in each category – pupils’ achievement, behaviour and safety; the quality of teaching and leadership and management.

Head teacher Mrs Jan Elliott said the school was very proud of the report, compiled following a visit by inspectors early last month.

“Staff and children alike were a credit to themselves and the school,” said Mrs Elliott.

“The shortness of the inspection – just two days – gives only a snapshot of the vast amount of hard work that goes on in school.

“We wish, in a way, even though the process is very gruelling, that we could have had a longer period of time to show the inspectors more of the very good and outstanding practice which goes on here.”

Inspectors said the pupils enjoyed school, well-planned activities captured their imaginations so they were eager to learn and they progressed well, with the majority reaching – and many exceeding – expected levels in all areas.

The team added that the children worked and played happily together, were “unfailingly polite and friendly” and showed consideration and care for each other.

Mrs Elliott said that since the school’s last inspection in 2007, the criteria and levels of expectation to receive a “good” grade had increased three times.

“Recent ‘headline’ results for Eastburn have been lower than in previous years due to above-average numbers of pupils with special educational needs within small cohorts,” she said.

“We are very proud to be an inclusive school and the report praises our highly skilled teaching assistants and the provision we make for children who need additional support.

“Both the governors and senior leadership of the school feel it is very unfair that school data is published – as in the recent league tables – which gives no indication of the massive progress, not just in academic areas but also in emotional and social wellbeing as well as also sometimes in essential physical development, that the school has supported such children in achieving.”

The report said the school was not yet graded “outstanding” because while pupils made good progress, not enough reached higher levels, particularly in writing, and some teaching required improvement. Mrs Elliott added: “Despite the academic challenges of the past two years we have still managed to achieve an overall improvement in attainment, which shows we are not just a good school but a very good and improving school.

“There is much to celebrate and we will of course continue to work hard to implement the recommendations which will enable us to keep on improving, striving to move from good to outstanding.”