Pupils of a Chester primary school have said it is a "kind and friendly place where everyone is welcome".

That was the finding by Ofsted inspectors, as they have rated St Theresa's Catholic Primary School in Blacon as a Good school in all areas.

That means the school has continued to hold its Good rating since its last full inspection in 2014.

Inspectors said: "Pupils are happy in school. They know that staff care for their well-being.

"Pupils said that their school is a kind and friendly place where everyone is welcome. They go out of their way to make sure everyone feels included. Older pupils look after younger pupils through the school’s buddy system.

"Pupils value the diverse nature of their school. They celebrate the many different backgrounds of their friends."

Inspectors added: "Pupils try their hardest in lessons. When pupils need extra help with their learning, they receive close support to help them catch up. This means that pupils achieve well in most subjects.

"Pupils follow the school rules and behave well in class and around the school building. This means that the school is a calm place to be. Pupils show high levels of respect to each other and to adults."

Youngsters at the school also "spoke excitedly" about the "many trips and visits" they access, and attend lots of different clubs such as the zoo club.

Identifying what the school does well, inspectors said: "The school has recently refreshed the curriculum from the early years to Year 6. It is an exciting and ambitious curriculum.

"The school identifies pupils’ additional needs, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as early as possible. It puts support in place to help these pupils to learn the same curriculum as their peers. Pupils with SEND achieve well.

"The school has made the teaching of early reading an absolute priority. Children in the Nursery class enjoy songs, rhymes and stories that prepare them well for learning about letters and their sounds.

"Staff are well trained to deliver the phonics curriculum, which starts from the beginning of the Reception Year. Pupils who find reading difficult are identified quickly. They catch up due to the extra support that they receive.

"Pupils develop into fluent readers who show a love of reading and books."

Inspectors added the school does everything it can to promote good attendance, promotes pupils' personal development well, while visitors to school such as police officers and fire safety officers, support pupils to stay safe within their community and online."

Identifying where the school can improve further, inspectors said: "On occasion, some teachers do not select the most appropriate approaches to deliver the curriculum. This means that some pupils are not secure in the knowledge that they need for the next stage of their learning. The school should ensure that teachers are fully equipped to deliver the curriculum as intended."

They added that the school should "ensure that subject leaders have the knowledge and expertise to support teachers to implement the curriculum consistently well from the early years to Year 6."

Inspectors noted the school, in Kipling Road, has had a change of headteacher – now Lisa Holland – since the last inspection, and the next inspection will be in five years.