PLANS to improve teaching standards at an infant school are being put in place following a critical Ofsted report.

Inspectors said there were serious weaknesses at Skelton Infant School, where unsatisfactory teaching resulted in pupils making slower progress and achieving lower standards than expected.

The report said the school had some good features such as a good relationship with parents and an attractive and stimulating learning environment, plus a good standard of behaviour from the pupils.

The school is now obliged to put an action plan in place to tackle the areas that were criticised and the governing body, with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is already activating its scheme.

Chairwoman of the governors, Sue Mortimer, said: "There are many positive things in the report that parents like about the school such as its ethos, relationships and the care provided for children. Without this, we would find it difficult to tackle the criticisms.

"We acknowledge the serious weaknesses but are willing to meet the challenge and deal with it. There is nothing to be gained from disagreeing with it.

"We want to get down to basics and deal with it in the best way we can."

She said that the governing body was supporting the school and continued to meet with parents to discuss areas for improvement. Coun Ian Jeffrey, the council's lead member for lifelong learning and leisure, said the authority was being supportive rather than heavy handed.

"The inspection report gives a mixture of positive and negative views of the school and it is our role as the education authority to provide as much support and guidance as we can, to correct any problems. We are doing that. It is important that the school knows it has got the support of the authority.

"The school will work with the authority to work it out. Teaching morale is at a low ebb and it is important to give them the confidence to pick up the issues."