Efforts of a small school and its feeder nursery have been praised by government inspectors.

Two inspection teams arrived in Westnewton, near Aspatria, in the same week to review operations of the village’s independently-run preschool and the primary school it is located within.

Ofsted inspectors were impressed, raising their judgement of the preschool from good to outstanding, the highest ranking they can award.

St Matthew’s School has also seen many improvements since its last inspection four years ago.

It has been judged to be a good school overall and in a breakdown of the inspectors’ findings they say the pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare is outstanding.

At Westnewton Preschool, inspectors found that “outcomes for children are excellent” and it has a strong and well-qualified team.

“Children thrive in the pre-school and thoroughly enjoy their time there” and “exceptional” relationships are formed with families, inspectors added.

Meanwhile, inspectors who visited St Matthew’s School found that it is “a happy school which pupils love to attend”.

Headteacher Carole Satterthwaite leads the school well, inspectors say, and improvements include the teaching of maths and phonics.

Children also get off to a good start in reception, the report notes.

Mrs Satterthwaite is also chairman of the Westnewton Preschool committee.

She said: “We had inspections just days apart and the results have been published in the same week too and we’re delighted.

“The school has been given a good judgement in three areas and outstanding in one and the nursery is outstanding in all areas. When I took over as head I wanted to set up a nursery for the community and it is running really well.”

Numbers are growing at the school and nursery. There are 50 pupils in school with a further 25 cared for at the preschool.

Mrs Satterthwaite added: “The findings reflect all the hard work and dedication and commitment of everyone involved, the whole school community.

“As chair of the preschool committee we couldn’t have asked for a better Ofsted and again it is down to those involved who are committed to the children.

“We know that this is a special place in which to learn and the personal development of the children here is fantastic. People now bring their children from other areas including Aspatria here to our small school and it has really become a hub of our community following the closure of our pub and post office.”