TEACHERS and pupils at an independent Exmoor school for children with special needs were celebrating this week after achieving an 'Outstanding' rating from OFSTED.

The Libra School based at South Molton caters for 24 children and received 'Outstanding' ratings in all four areas it was inspected on between January 20 and 22.

Headteacher Joan Wilkes congratulated her team of staff and pupils, saying the report highlights the hard work they have put in.

The OFSTED report concludes: “The promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is of the highest quality and is integral to the school’s ethos."

“The school provides pupils with a range of high-quality therapeutic provision. This is making a positive contribution to building pupils’ self-esteem and confidence.

“Parents and carers speak highly of the school. They appreciate the quality of learning opportunities the school provides for their children and the stability and care given.”

The Libra School care of children who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and who have other specific learning difficulties associated with learning delays or underachievement. These include Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, OCD, and mild auditory, visual and physical disabilities.

It specialises in supporting highly vulnerable young children in residential placements who have been unable to settle in foster care or in other residential homes and who display very challenging behaviours.

The school's mission statement reads: "We are committed to inclusion. The school is dedicated to policies that support cultures, policies and practices that include all learners.

"We aim to engender a sense of community and belonging, and to offer new opportunities to learners who may have experienced previous difficulties."