AN EDUCATION and care facility in Sherfield-on-Loddon has been rated as ‘outstanding’.

Ofsted inspectors have praised The Loddon School, in Wildmoor Lane, for its “exceptional progress” since its last inspection in 2017.

The school and children’s home facility were both inspected on July 11 and 12 with the children’s overall experience and progress found to be ‘outstanding’.

The report read: “The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of ‘good’.

“The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.”

Due to a new system, the school and home were inspected together, which lead to the overall rating.

Inspectors noted children who attended the school were given the best possible tools to aid them with their learning experience.

The report added: “Pupils thrive at Loddon. They make exceptional progress in all aspects of their learning. Pupils’ personal development is exemplary. Highly-knowledgeable, multi-disciplinary teams make life-changing differences for pupils.”

The Loddon School’s purpose is to provide value in the education and care of children with autism and severe learning disabilities.

Principal Dr Gill Barrett said: “I am delighted for the school to gain this continued recognition for the life changing work that our highly talented staff team achieve every day.

“As a school we always look for new ways to improve our practice in order to give the children and young people, who have failed to thrive in their previous schools, the very best in life and for them to be very well prepared for life beyond school”