TEACHERS at a referral school set up last year to cater for children with behavioural problems have been praised by Ofsted inspectors.

The Hambleton and Richmondshire pupil referral service, based in Northallerton, was rated as good by the Government’s inspectors.

The service operates as a short-stay school and outreach service to students with social, emotional, behavioural or health-related difficulties.

The Ofsted inspectors praised the staff at the school for a relentless focus on improving the learning and progress of each student.

The referral service now aims to build on these successes to offer an increasing number of practical and academic challenges for students.

Fiona Dodgson, headteacher of the Hambleton and Richmondshire pupil referral service, said: "I am delighted to have such a successful and ambitious team of hard-working professionals.

"They are very well supported by our management committee, the local authority and most of all our students, parents and carers."

The Ofsted inspectors felt that the majority of pupils who attended the referral service made rapid progress and quickly returned to mainstream schools.

Inspectors praised the leadership for driving forward improvements at the school and that students make brisk progress as a result of intensive, highly individualised teaching. The students feel they have to work hard and make good progress and that the service gives them the skills and confidence to carry on studying to a higher level.

John Watson, the county council’s executive member for schools, said: "This first year has shown that students have the widest opportunities to improve their learning and enjoyment of education.

"Staff, students, parents and carers must be congratulated on these achievements and we look forward to the continuing success of the service."

Among the work done by the service is Maths for All workshops which tackle maths based problems in a different way to mainstream schools.

The service also offers the chance to make a short promotional film for the referral school as part of a media skills qualification.

There is an after school cooking club for students, parents and carers and there is a Spring indoor athletics match held.

Hambleton and Richmondshire is one of three new pupil referral services which North Yorkshire County Council has established.