A FIRST school has been praised for its 'strong sense of community and inclusion' in its latest Ofsted report.

Mickley First School, West Road, Stocksfield, was inspected by Ofsted in February and was declared 'good' in all areas in a report published on March 21.

"The school has created a friendly and welcoming environment for pupils and their families. Staff foster strong relationships with parents and carers. Pupils know that they have a trusted adult to talk to in school if they need one. This helps them to feel safe," the report said. 

READ MORE: 'Exceptionally nurturing' environment praised at outstanding pre-school

It added: "While most pupils behave well, sometimes, staff are inconsistent in their expectations of how pupils should behave. This means a small number of pupils sometimes distract others with their low-level disruptive behaviours. The school is aware of this and is already working with staff to bring about improvements."

The school prioritises reading and staff know how to teach phonics well.

"The school identifies, assesses and meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities successfully. A counsellor supports pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has created safe spaces for pupils to use if they feel overwhelmed. These adaptations make a positive difference to pupils’ learning, behaviour and well-being."