AN independent school near Bridgwater that caters for children with learning disabilities has been told it must improve.

Shapwick School, which provides specialist dyslexic teaching classes, received a 'requires improvement' rating in its latest Ofsted report.

The school is heading in the right direction, having been rated as 'inadequate' during its previous full inspection in 2014.

The inspectors said: "Leaders have not ensured that all the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection have been tackled with sufficient urgency and rigour.

"The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inconsistent across the school and across a range of subjects. "Some teachers do not demand enough of pupils, particularly the most able, to ensure that they make consistently good progress and know how to improve their work," the report states.

The school specialises in supporting boys and girls aged 8 to 19 years whose education has been adversely affected by dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

It employs specialist teachers, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists who deliver to small classes (average size is 8) and individuals.

The report said the school's strengths included leaders having an accurate understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement.

"Their actions are beginning to have a positive impact on improving the quality of teaching and pupils’ outcomes," the report states.

"Pupils’ behaviour is consistently good. They are polite, courteous and respectful to each other."

However the inspectors do say that not all staff have received training to enable them to 'de-escalate behaviour incidents' or to recognise possible signs of risk to pupils.

Shapwick School have been approached for a comment.