INSPECTORS have recorded that a Ramsbottom primary school is making progress after a report found it needed to make improvements.

Emmanuel Holcombe Primary was judged to "require improvement" following an Ofsted inspection in September last year, but in the latest visit, officials said the school was taking effective steps.

The report read: "You have turned a corner and are making headway in eradicating the weaknesses identified during the last inspection.

"Your actions to improve the school are more effective because there is a greater sense of urgency, everyone is doing their bit and improving pupils’ achievement is your number one priority."

It continued: "The difficult messages I delivered during my last visit were not easy to hear. Nonetheless, no-one lost heart, everyone brushed themselves down and set about tackling shortcomings with renewed vigour and determination.

"However, there is still a long haul ahead to ensure the school makes the leap to good at the next inspection. Despite moving

more quickly towards your goals, you are battling to make up for lost time in the past."

The report added that standards had increased at the end of Year 2 and 6, resulting in this year's results being the school's best ever.

In addition, it found that pupils who leave the school at Year 6 and go to secondary school are over a term ahead of all pupils nationally, in terms of achievement.

The report added: "There is still a long haul ahead to ensure the school makes the leap to 'good' at the next inspection.

"Despite moving more quickly towards your goals, you are battling to make up for lost time in the past."

Points for improvement included more rigorous checking of the work of younger pupils in the Early Years Foundation Stage and providing more challenging work to make sure pupils do not tread water academically.

Inspectors said teaching at the school is improving, because they benefited from quality training and guidance from school leaders, but that is was not yet perfect.

The report said: "Teaching is definitely on the right track, but there is still work to do. Teachers are not quite getting it right for more-able pupils, who often tread water repeating work they have already shown they can do with ease."