A FAREHAM special school has received a glowing report from Ofsted inspectors.

An inspection report said Heathfield School, catering for children of three to 11 years old with a wide range of special needs, continues to be excellent.

The report followed the first inspection of Heathfield since it merged with Foxbury School in September, 1998.

Inspectors found the school was continuing to go from strength to strength.

Teaching was 70 per cent good or better and 30 per cent satisfactory.

Literacy and numeracy were taught effectively at all levels throughout the Oldbury Way school.

In a previous Ofsted inspection, Heath-field was shown to be a very effective school, so this time the school had a short inspection that concentrated on the main strengths of the school and areas needing improvement.

Inspectors recognised that the reorganisation and major building works had diverted the school's energies away from other planned developments, but the head teacher and senior staff had maintained a firm vision.

Head teacher Stella Muirhead praised staff.

She said: "As a result of the merger, the school has been through a very challenging period and staff had had to work extremely hard.

"The excellent result is a tribute to their great effort and commitment."

The governors were found to be effective, hard working and very involved in the life of the school.

Chairman of governors Ann Parkins said: "I am very pleased the inspectors have recognised the achievements of the whole school community.

"We are now in a very strong position to move forward and meet the challenges of the future."

The report praised a number of strengths in the school, including very good teamwork between teachers and the high quality of learning support assistants, high morale and rising standards.

The excellent provision for children to learn right from wrong, outstanding leadership and management involving everyone in decision making and outstanding provision for parents also found favour with the inspection team.

Targets for improvements are to monitor further the quality of teaching, to further improve practice and improve the physical improvement in the early years unit and the older classrooms.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.