A SPECIAL school in Penarth has received a "good" rating in its latest ESTYN report.

Ysgol Y Deri based on Sully Road was inspected back in October and the report released on Tuesday, December 6 has concluded that its current performance and prospects for improvement are both good.

The school was opened as part of the Welsh Government and Vale council funded Penarth Learning Community alongside St Cyres in 2014 and is the amalgamation of three schools which previously served children with educational needs in the Vale.

The report looked to identify the answers to three key questions including how good outcomes are, how good provision is and how good leadership and management are.

The school was also rated good in all these areas and the main recommendations made by the report were to ensure that teaching across the school is consistently good or better and to improve the quality of individual education plans to match targets more closely to the needs of pupils identified in statements of special educational needs.

The report stated that: "The school provides a broad and balanced range of relevant learning experiences that meets requirements and the needs of nearly all pupils well."

It also says that the school has appropriate arrangements for identifying and monitoring pupils’ additional needs and that it has a highly positive and inclusive ethos, which helps pupils to develop self-esteem and grow in confidence whilst staff establish nurturing relationships with pupils, know their pupils well and have a comprehensive understanding of their individual needs and abilities.

On the role of the headteacher and leadership team, it states that "they have established a clear vision for the newly created school that focuses on

providing opportunities for all pupils to achieve their potential."

Headteacher Christopher Britten said: "We are delighted with this report.

"Estyn have recognised the tremendous work that everyone at the school does every day.

"The success of our pupils is celebrated and their fantastic achievements have been acknowledged.

"We would like to thank our parents for their support and enthusiasm and all of our friends and supporters in the community.

"We also recognise the huge contribution that councillors and staff of the Vale of Glamorgan Council have made in establishing a wonderful school.

"Our whole school community can be justifiably proud today."

Councillor Lis Burnett, cabinet member for regeneration and education, said: "Today’s report is a thoroughly well-deserved recognition of the hard work of all of those at Ysgol Y Deri.

"The opening of the Penarth Learning Community was a key milestone in the council’s school investment programme.

"We believe firmly in investing in our schools and providing both pupils and teachers with the best possible platform for success.

"Ysgol Y Deri is arguably the best special educational needs facility in Wales and the inspector’s report is evidence that this investment has paid off."