GENERALLY satisfactory progress is being made at Leominster's Larches School, say Ofsted inspectors, writes RICHARD PRIME.

The 32-pupil school provides part-time education for pupils placed by social services departments from all over the country in residential accommodation at Clifford House.

Inspectors found that the quality of teaching was satisfactory or better in three-quarters of lessons and teaching of core and some foundation subjects was good, but curriculum planning is weak with certain subjects such as design and technology, religious education, music and a modern foreign language not taught.

Pupil behaviour in class was generally satisfactory, say the inspectors, but on the few occasions when there were outbursts of obscene and unpleasant language against teachers and other pupils, this was condoned in a manner contrary to the school's good behaviour and anti-bullying policies.

The inspectors also noted that the school's accommodation was now too small for the existing numbers and the school was overcrowded. Staff facilities were poor. The 22 boys and 10 girls currently enrolled at the Larches attend either morning or afternoon sessions at the school. One point on the 11-stage action plan for the school is that all pupils should be either attending a full-time educational programme or moving toward that aim over a fixed period of time.

Other points include implementing a staff development policy and improving in-service training for teachers and staff; reducing overcrowding; improving staff facilities and establishing a consistent approach to tackling verbal abuse and bad behaviour.